By Peter Duru, Makurdi 

The Federal Government is to construct a multi-purpose dam upstream of River Dura in Buruku Local Government Area, LGA, of Benue state to check the flooding in that part of the state. 

The Deputy Director, Hydrology, Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Mr. Robert Umezulike who made this known weekend shortly after leading a government delegation to assess the Makurdi- Gboko -Katsina-Ala highway following the overflow of River Dura on the road said the contract for the study and design of the dam had been awarded. 

Umezulike who blamed the flood on the continuous deposits of sediments in the river which overtime reduced its depth leading to the overflow of its banks assured that his team would assessed the flood situation and report to the Minister for immediate action. 

According to him, “Overtime most of our rivers become shallow due to sediment deposits on water channels so the capacity of the river to now contain water is reduced. When there is small rain and water flows into the channels, the channels are overwhelmed and it results to flood. 

“From what we have seen here there is need for a water reservoir upstream of the river Dura and in that direction, the Ministry has already awarded contract for study and design of a multi-purpose dam upstream of the river that will kind of contain the water that is coming from that axis.” 

The District Head of Mbaakura Ward, HRH, Mathias Ager who lamented that the flood had submerged their houses, farms and property pointed out that the level of water that overflow on the highway in the area anytime there was rain indicated  that there was need for the government to build a dam to contain the water. 

The royal fathers also appealled to the Federal Government to rehabilitate the Makurdi- Gboko -Katsina -Ala road “which has been cut off at Abekwa settlement closed to River Dura bridge.” 

The District Head who commended President Bola Tinubu for appointing Benue sons into key positions in his government especially the Secreatry to the Government of the Federation, SGF, and the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation urged the appointees to continue to support the President to succeed in office. 

The traditional ruler said he believed in the capacity of the Tiv sons in the President Tinubu administration to deliver assuring that they would not disappoint the country, the President and the Tiv nation. 

A Benue youth leader, Levinus Tyodoo who spoke at the spot of the damaged road, urged the Federal Government to rebuild the road for easy movement of motorists and hauling of farm produce from the rural communities to other parts of the state and country. 

The youth leader pointed out that the road was strategic as it connects the people of Benue and Taraba states  to the rest of the country. 

A commercial vehicle operator, Terkimbi Atse lamented that he spent two days on the road that had a spoilt portion that stretched from Abwa in Mbagem to Dura adding that the flood also affected Dura bridge.