Afam Osigwe Commiserates With Residents of Benue State Affected By Flood

The fate that has befallen the residents of Benue State affected
by the flood of the last few days is lamentable, painful and
unfortunate.

The dislocation from homes and loss of property must have been
irreparably excruciating. I feel your pains, grief, losses and
sorrow.

My prayer is that you recover in leaps and bounds from this
unfortunate incident. Please take solace in the fact that difficult
moments do not last.

You shall surely overcome this misfortune that has befallen
you.

My prayers are with you.

TheNigerialawyer recalls that the Benue State Emergency
Management Agency, SEMA, said over 110,000 people in 24 communities
including Makurdi, the state capital, were displaced by flood in
recent months.

The Executive Secretary of the agency, Boniface Ortese, told the
News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Makurdi on Wednesday that over 2,
769 households were also affected.

He explained that places affected included Achusa, Idye, Wurukum
Market, Genabe, Industrial Layout, Demekpe, Wadata Market, Katungu,
behind the Civil Service Commission, Agboughul-Wadata among
others.

“In Achusa, 200 houses were affected with 5,125 persons
displaced. In Idye 217 houses were affected while 5,200 persons
were displaced.

“Also, behind the Civil Service Commission 200 houses were
submerged in flood and 5,777 persons were displaced.

“At Genabe, 200 houses were affected with 5,021 persons
displaced, 218 houses around the Wurukum market were affected with
1,000 persons displaced, and at Wadata market150 houses were
affected and 4,300 persons were displaced.

“Similarly, at Industrial Layout, 69 houses were flooded and
4,310 persons displaced; Demekpe 111 houses were affected while
7,820 persons displaced,’’ the official said.

Mr. Ortese further said that 137 houses were flooded in Katungu
with 6,031 persons displaced while at Agboughul-Wadata 201 houses
were affected and 5,728 persons displaced.

He said that government was doing everything within its little
resources to assist flood victims in the state.

Meanwhile, the state commissioner for Water Resources and
Environment, Joseph Utsev, has urged the Federal Government to
include Benue among states to benefit from the N1.6 billion
ecological intervention fund.

Mr. Utsev said that since 2013, the state had not received any
ecological assistance from the Federal Government.

He said that if adequate budgetary provisions were made, many
disasters may be mitigated since natural disasters could only be
controlled.

The commissioner said that dredging the River Benue would
provide a permanent solution to the recurring flood in the
state.

“Benue Government is looking for ways in which River Benue can
be dredged; this is because by dredging the river, the water can be
accommodated and thus, prevent future overflow.

“The ongoing research so far, shows that the preliminary study
would cost about N8 billion while the main project would gulp about
N300 billion.

“And this is where we need Federal Government financial
intervention to execute the project, since the funds are much,’’ he
said.
However, a cross section of Makurdi residents accused the Benue
State Government of doing little to protect the citizens from flood
disaster over the years.

A resident told NAN “since the 2012 flood disaster, government
has done little to mitigate the situation apart from talking”

The resident said that the perennial flood disaster was an
opportunity for some government officials to get free money and
relief materials to divert.

James Udam, a resident of Idye Village told NAN that for over
twenty years of his stay in the village, government has done
nothing to protect residents despite their cries.
Mr. Udam said that year in year out they have been affected by
flood yet government keeps making promises without any action.

“This is where we find ourselves in Benue. Government officials
are rather happy that there is heavy flood disaster so as to get
free funds and relief materials to divert.

“The same thing is again about to happen. The only thing the
government has done so far is to make noise. Not a single culvert
has been constructed to mitigate the situation since 2012,” he
lamented.
Also, Juliana Agbo, a resident of Achusa, told NAN that their
situation was pathetic as they have no shelter.
According to her, government was yet to open camp for IDPs in the
state.

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that government
officials involved in emergency management are still awaiting the
governor’s approval to open IDPs camps.

The Akume-led administration awarded a N2.2 billion contract to
CAD Nigeria Limited for the construction of water drainage channel
that will control all the running waters down to River Benue but
the project was abandoned.

Over 4000 households were submerged, property worth millions
destroyed and scores died in the 2012 flood disaster.

The fate that has befallen the residents of Benue State affected
by the flood of the last few days is lamentable, painful and
unfortunate.

The dislocation from homes and loss of property must have been
irreparably excruciating. I feel your pains, grief, losses and
sorrow.

My prayer is that you recover in leaps and bounds from this
unfortunate incident. Please take solace in the fact that difficult
moments do not last.

You shall surely overcome this misfortune that has befallen
you.

My prayers are with you.

TheNigerialawyer recalls that the Benue State Emergency
Management Agency, SEMA, said over 110,000 people in 24 communities
including Makurdi, the state capital, were displaced by flood in
recent months.

The Executive Secretary of the agency, Boniface Ortese, told the
News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Makurdi on Wednesday that over 2,
769 households were also affected.

He explained that places affected included Achusa, Idye, Wurukum
Market, Genabe, Industrial Layout, Demekpe, Wadata Market, Katungu,
behind the Civil Service Commission, Agboughul-Wadata among
others.

“In Achusa, 200 houses were affected with 5,125 persons
displaced. In Idye 217 houses were affected while 5,200 persons
were displaced.

“Also, behind the Civil Service Commission 200 houses were
submerged in flood and 5,777 persons were displaced.

“At Genabe, 200 houses were affected with 5,021 persons
displaced, 218 houses around the Wurukum market were affected with
1,000 persons displaced, and at Wadata market150 houses were
affected and 4,300 persons were displaced.

“Similarly, at Industrial Layout, 69 houses were flooded and
4,310 persons displaced; Demekpe 111 houses were affected while
7,820 persons displaced,’’ the official said.

Mr. Ortese further said that 137 houses were flooded in Katungu
with 6,031 persons displaced while at Agboughul-Wadata 201 houses
were affected and 5,728 persons displaced.

He said that government was doing everything within its little
resources to assist flood victims in the state.

Meanwhile, the state commissioner for Water Resources and
Environment, Joseph Utsev, has urged the Federal Government to
include Benue among states to benefit from the N1.6 billion
ecological intervention fund.

Mr. Utsev said that since 2013, the state had not received any
ecological assistance from the Federal Government.

He said that if adequate budgetary provisions were made, many
disasters may be mitigated since natural disasters could only be
controlled.

The commissioner said that dredging the River Benue would
provide a permanent solution to the recurring flood in the
state.

“Benue Government is looking for ways in which River Benue can
be dredged; this is because by dredging the river, the water can be
accommodated and thus, prevent future overflow.

“The ongoing research so far, shows that the preliminary study
would cost about N8 billion while the main project would gulp about
N300 billion.

“And this is where we need Federal Government financial
intervention to execute the project, since the funds are much,’’ he
said.
However, a cross section of Makurdi residents accused the Benue
State Government of doing little to protect the citizens from flood
disaster over the years.

A resident told NAN “since the 2012 flood disaster, government
has done little to mitigate the situation apart from talking”

The resident said that the perennial flood disaster was an
opportunity for some government officials to get free money and
relief materials to divert.

James Udam, a resident of Idye Village told NAN that for over
twenty years of his stay in the village, government has done
nothing to protect residents despite their cries.
Mr. Udam said that year in year out they have been affected by
flood yet government keeps making promises without any action.

“This is where we find ourselves in Benue. Government officials
are rather happy that there is heavy flood disaster so as to get
free funds and relief materials to divert.

“The same thing is again about to happen. The only thing the
government has done so far is to make noise. Not a single culvert
has been constructed to mitigate the situation since 2012,” he
lamented.
Also, Juliana Agbo, a resident of Achusa, told NAN that their
situation was pathetic as they have no shelter.
According to her, government was yet to open camp for IDPs in the
state.

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that government
officials involved in emergency management are still awaiting the
governor’s approval to open IDPs camps.

The Akume-led administration awarded a N2.2 billion contract to
CAD Nigeria Limited for the construction of water drainage channel
that will control all the running waters down to River Benue but
the project was abandoned.

Over 4000 households were submerged, property worth millions
destroyed and scores died in the 2012 flood disaster.