To address the impact of flooding, the Federal Government, through the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Utserv, announced plans to build dams nationwide.
This was revealed during the commissioning of the 1.2km Idye River Basin erosion control/hydraulic drainage project in Makurdi, Benue State, handled by the National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC).
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, represented Utserv at the event.
The minister stated, “Water is life that is why in the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, we are building dams across the country and Benue is not left out.
“We are also providing water infrastructure across all the breaths of Nigeria and the President is building a Nigeria where everyone is involved.”
To address the impact of flooding, the Federal Government, through the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Utserv, announced plans to build dams nationwide.
This was revealed during the commissioning of the 1.2km Idye River Basin erosion control/hydraulic drainage project in Makurdi, Benue State, handled by the National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC).
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, represented Utserv at the event.
“This flood control project, which we are here to commission today, is only one of the early steps taken by the Commission towards reversing ecological degradation and promoting sustainable developments in riverine communities across the country,” the SGF noted.
Abubakar Yelwa, the Managing Director of N-HYPPADEC, lamented the destructive impact of flooding, revealing that in 2022, a total of 18,349 homes and farms were destroyed, resulting in the displacement of 134,797 individuals.
He mentioned, “For years, the residents of Makurdi and other parts of Benue State have endured annual flooding that has consumed thousands of homes and farmlands, displacing numerous families.
“The 2022 Benue floods were even more tragic. In 2022, the Benue State Emergency Management Agency reported that the floods consumed about 18,349 houses and farmlands, displacing a total of 134,797 people.
“This staggering impact shows the urgent need to take decisive action to safeguard the communities and the livelihoods of people in the state.
“Successive governments at both federal and state levels have made frantic efforts to manage this crisis and mitigate its impact on the people and the environment.”
The Managing Director announced that the Federal Government has invested around N1.2 billion in the project, which includes an additional 2.5 kilometers of excavation to alleviate flooding in the lower basin of the community.
Meanwhile, Governor Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia acknowledged that Benue State’s flooding and erosion challenges are perpetuated by its geography and climate, making it prone to seasonal flooding and erosion.
He said, “These environmental challenges threaten not only our agricultural productivity but also the safety and livelihoods of our people.
“In this context, the Idye flood control/dyke project is not just a necessity but a beacon of hope for our countries.
Widespread flooding has affected numerous states in the country, particularly during the rainy season, with the severity of the flooding being described as one of the worst in ten years.
The floods have resulted in significant destruction of infrastructure, homes, and farmland, leading to heightened concerns about food security due to crop losses.
The severity of the flooding is attributed to a combination of factors, including heavy rainfall, inadequate urban planning, and the release of excess water from Cameroon’s Lagdo Dam, which has worsened the situation in states along the River Niger.
