Torrential rainfall submerges houses in Benue, renders many homeless
Severe Flooding Displaces Residents in Makurdi’s Achusa Community
Makurdi, Benue State – Heavy rainfall has led to significant flooding in the Achusa Community, displacing numerous residents and damaging properties worth millions of naira. Several homes have been submerged, forcing affected individuals to seek shelter on higher grounds and with relatives.
Local residents have described the flooding as one of the most severe in recent years. Many households have been uprooted, leading to widespread hardship within the community.
In response to the disaster, Benue State Governor Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia visited the impacted areas and dispatched a delegation to conduct an on-site assessment to evaluate the extent of the damage and identify potential solutions. The delegation included Hon. Chief Solomon Iorpev, Commissioner for Information and Orientation; Mr. Odoh Ugwu, Commissioner for Water Resources and Environment; Mr. Kuma Iyenge, Commissioner for Works and Housing; and Mr. Ter Mede, General Manager of the Benue State Urban Development Board.
During the visit, Hon. Chief Iorpev expressed concern for the affected residents and assured them that the state government was working on effective measures to address the ongoing flooding issues in Achusa. He noted that during his earlier visit, Governor Alia had expressed deep concern over the destruction and directed relevant ministries to take immediate action.
Preliminary assessments revealed that many affected homes were constructed illegally on natural waterways and floodplains, which obstructed water flow. Nevertheless, the delegation reported that efforts to resolve the issue are already in progress, including ongoing road construction from the Hotel Lucia axis through Achusa, where standard drainage systems are being built to channel stormwater to the River Benue.
“The design for the drainage in this area is standard, and once completed, it will significantly reduce flooding,” Iyenge explained.
As an immediate measure, the government announced plans to demolish buildings obstructing designated water channels to facilitate the free flow of water. Compensation will be provided to landlords whose properties are affected by these actions, but officials emphasized that they would not tolerate further illegal developments.
The team also cautioned against unauthorized construction and has begun sensitizing the community about the risks associated with building on waterways.
While residents acknowledged the ongoing challenges of recurrent flooding due to inadequate drainage and unregulated construction, they called for a fair compensation process for all landlords, regardless of property legality.
Community representatives, Prof. Iorhen Yechor and Hon. Terfa Abe, expressed their concerns about the annual flooding crisis and urged the government to ensure that every victim receives compensation. They emphasized the need to expedite the Hotel Lucia-Achusa road and drainage project to prevent further inundation of the community.
As of the latest updates, floodwaters continue to recede in Achusa, but residents are left assessing the damages and the losses they have endured.
