Several homes have been submerged and many residents displaced following a heavy downpour in Achusa Community, Makurdi, the Benue State capital, with affected families forced to seek shelter on higher ground or move in with relatives as floodwaters swept through parts of the community.
The rainfall left a trail of destruction across the affected area, with residents reporting the loss of property worth millions of naira. Some households were completely forced out of their homes, while others were left assessing the damage as the flood gradually receded. Residents described the incident as one of the most severe flooding episodes experienced in the community in recent years.
The disaster has renewed concerns over the recurring flooding problem in Achusa, where residents have for years contended with inadequate drainage and development around natural waterways. The latest incident has now prompted a renewed intervention by the Benue State Government, which is seeking both immediate and longer-term measures to reduce the community’s exposure to flooding.
Alia Orders Assessment of Flood Damage
Governor Hyacinth Alia visited parts of the affected area and subsequently directed relevant government ministries and agencies to assess the extent of the destruction and determine measures capable of addressing the problem.
A high-powered delegation was dispatched to Achusa for an on-the-spot assessment. The team was led by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Chief Solomon Iorpev, and included the Commissioner for Water Resources and Environment, Odoh Ugwu; Commissioner for Works and Housing, Kuma Iyenge; and General Manager of the Benue State Urban Development Board, Ter Mede.
Iorpev said the state government was concerned about the situation facing residents and assured the affected community that action was being taken to address the recurring flooding.
According to him, Governor Alia had visited the area a few days earlier and was visibly affected by the scale of the destruction witnessed there. He said the governor subsequently instructed the relevant ministries and agencies to move into the community and work towards finding a lasting solution.
The commissioner said the government understood the hardship caused by the flooding and would not ignore the plight of residents whose homes and belongings had been affected.
Government Blames Development on Waterways
The joint assessment, however, identified one of the major factors contributing to the flooding as the construction of buildings on natural waterways and flood plains.
Officials said a significant number of the affected structures had been erected in areas required for the natural movement of water. By obstructing those routes, the developments have contributed to the accumulation and overflow of floodwater during periods of heavy rainfall.
The finding has placed the issue of illegal development at the centre of the government’s response. Officials said clearing blocked waterways and restoring the natural flow of stormwater would be necessary to reduce the risk of future flooding in the community.
The state government also pointed to ongoing road and drainage construction as part of its broader response. According to the assessment team, work on the road linking the Hotel Lucia axis through Achusa was progressing, with standard drainage channels being constructed to direct stormwater towards the River Benue.
Iyenge, the Commissioner for Works and Housing, said the drainage system being constructed had been designed to improve the movement of stormwater away from residential areas.
“The design for the drainage in this area is standard, and when completed, it will greatly reduce flooding,” Iyenge explained.
The government believes the completion of the road and drainage project will provide an important infrastructure solution to the longstanding flooding problem, particularly by creating a structured route for excess rainwater to flow towards the River Benue.
Buildings on Marked Water Channels Face Demolition
As part of the immediate measures announced following the assessment, the government directed that structures built directly on water channels already identified and marked in the affected areas would be removed.
The decision is intended to reopen blocked waterways and establish the right of way needed for water to move freely. Government officials said the action was necessary to prevent further obstruction of drainage routes and reduce the likelihood of repeated flooding.
However, the state government also indicated that it would consider compensation for deserving landlords whose properties are affected by the opening of the waterways.
Officials stressed that the compensation measure would not amount to approval of illegal construction. Rather, the government said deserving property owners could be considered where their buildings were affected by the intervention, while reiterating that it would not tolerate further development carried out without the necessary approvals.
The delegation warned residents against erecting structures without obtaining the required approval from the Benue State Urban Development Board. It also said community sensitisation had commenced to educate residents about the risks associated with building on waterways and flood plains.
Residents Seek Wider Compensation
While residents acknowledged the longstanding nature of the flooding problem and the role played by poor drainage and indiscriminate development, they raised concerns over how the government’s proposed intervention and compensation plan would affect victims.
Some members of the community appealed for compensation to be extended to all landlords affected by the exercise, irrespective of whether their properties were ultimately classified as legal or illegal structures.
Representing the community, Prof. Iorhen Yechor and Hon. Terfa Abe described the recurring flooding as an annual ordeal for residents of Achusa. They said repeated flooding had caused severe hardship, with some residents losing virtually everything they owned during the latest incident.
The community representatives appealed to the governor to adopt a humane approach while implementing the government’s plan. They urged the administration to ensure that victims of the disaster were not excluded from whatever relief or compensation arrangements were eventually established.
They also called for accelerated work on the Hotel Lucia-Achusa road and drainage project, arguing that completing the infrastructure as quickly as possible was critical to protecting the community from further destruction.
For residents, the immediate priority is not only recovering from the latest flood but preventing another disaster when heavy rainfall returns. The community’s appeal reflects the tension between the government’s determination to clear waterways and enforce planning regulations and residents’ concerns about the financial consequences of demolishing properties in an already flood-prone area.
Water Recedes as Residents Count Losses
As of the time of filing the report, floodwater had begun receding from most parts of Achusa, but the impact of the disaster remained evident as affected families assessed the damage to their homes and belongings.
Residents displaced by the flooding were still relying on higher ground and relatives for temporary shelter, while households whose homes remained accessible began cleaning up and determining the extent of their losses.
The Benue State Government’s assessment has therefore shifted attention towards both emergency intervention and the longer-term infrastructure and planning measures required to address Achusa’s recurring flooding.
With the state government planning to open blocked waterways, enforce development regulations and continue the drainage project towards the River Benue, the effectiveness of those measures will depend on how quickly they are implemented and how the authorities balance enforcement with the concerns of affected property owners.
For Achusa residents who have endured repeated flooding, however, the central demand remains clear: a lasting drainage solution capable of preventing homes from being submerged whenever torrential rainfall hits the community.
Torrential Rainfall Submerges Homes in Benue, Leaves Residents Homeless
