The Federal Government on Saturday assessed the Makurdi-Gboko-Katsina-Ala highway following the overflow of River Dura on the road.
Speaking during the assessment, Mr Robert Umezulike, Deputy Director, Hydrology, Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, said the flood was caused by an overflow of the River Dura in Buruku LG.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that aside from the flood that took over the road, the federal highway connecting Benue and Taraba has been completely cut off at Abekwa settlement closed to River Dura.
NAN further reports that commutters were made to sleep by the roadside for days before they could pass a distance of less than a kilometre.
Umezulike said the flood was caused by the continuous deposits of sediments into the river, thereby reducing the depth of the river to hold much water.
He said the ministry has already begun work to construct a multi-purpose dam upstream of the River Dura in Buruku to contain the heavy water that comes from that axis.
He said the team would assess the flood situation and report to the minister for immediate action.
“From what we have seen here, there is a need for a water reservoir upstream of the river, and in that direction, the ministry has already awarded a contract for the study and design of a multi-purpose dam upstream of the river,” he stated.
Chief Mathias Ager, District Head of Mbaakura Ward, said the flood has also submerged their houses, farms, and property.
Ager said the level of water that overflow on the highway in the area anytime there was rain showed that there was every need for the government to build a dam to contain the water.
He also appealed to the FG to rehabilitate the Makurdi-Gboko-Katsina-Ala road, which is currently cut off at Abekwa settlement, closed to the River Dura bridge.
He commended President Bola Tinubu for appointing Benue sons into key positions, especially the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, and urged them to continue to support the president to succeed.
The traditional ruler said he believed in the capacity of the Tiv sons in the Tinubu administration to deliver, adding that they would not disappoint the country, the president, and the Tiv nation.
A Benue youth, Levinus Tyodoo, who spoke at the spot of the damaged road, urged the FG to rebuild the road for easy movement of motorists and farm produce.
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Tyodoo said the road that connects Taraba and Benue with the southern part of the country was extremely strategic and needed to be fixed urgently.
He commended the President for finding Tiv sons worthy to occupy sensitive positions in his administration and praised them for their excellent performances so far in their offices.
A bus driver, Terkimbi Atse, said he has spent two days on the road because of the flood. (NAN)
