Benue and 12 state states in Nigeria braces for heavy floods as cameroon open dam

Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) held an emergency meeting on Tuesday following deadly floods that could worsen after neighbouring Cameroon opened flood gates at a dam to release excess water.

Since the start of the rainy season in July, over 100,000 people have been displaced, at least 300 killed and numerous homes and farmlands devastated.

About a week ago, more than 200 households were reportedly affected by the recent flood that hit parts of Makurdi the Benue state capital following days of heavy downpour in the town. The flood which submerged houses and swept away properties and valuables also left many displaced.

Pictures showing the devastating effects of the flood.

Houses sinking in the flood.

The Executive Secretary of Benue State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, Dr. Emmanuel Shior giving an update on the flood at the time, stated that the Benue State Standing Committee on flood was already working to mitigate the effect of the disaster.

This sanding committee according to Dr. Shior, comprises of Benue SEMA, Ministry of Water Resources, Ministry of Lands, Urban Development Board, Benue State Environmental and Sanitation Agency, Ministry of Information, Ministry of Agriculture, academics from Benue State University and consultants from the private sector; who all work together to mitigate the situation.

Dr. Shior further said, “so far we have recorded 200 households that were affected by the flood on Naka Road, Achussa, Utu Phase One, Kucha Utebe, Rice Mill and others but the flooding is not as bad as it used to be. The water that came over a week ago receeded, so we are monitoring the situation.

Thus, the NEMA Director General, Mustapha Habib Ahmed has more recently warned that 13 states are at risk of intense flood.

He outlined the states that are most likely to be affected as; Nasarawa, Taraba, Benue, Niger, Adamawa, Kebbi and Kogi states.

He also said that some Niger-Delta states including Edo, Delta, Anambra, Cross-River, Rivers and Bayelsa, were expected to record heavy floods due to the above normal rains, coupled with the combined waters of rivers Niger and Benue, as they empty into the region.