 Map of Nigeria | |
| Date | September 2017 |
|---|---|
| Location | Benue State, Nigeria |
| Cause | Long-term rainfall leading to flash floods and river overflowing |
| Property damage | 2,000+ houses destroyed |
The 2017 Benue State flooding took place in September 2017 in Benue State, Nigeria. [1] It displaced at least 100,000 people, [2] [3] and damaged more than 2,000 homes. [4]
Weeks of rainfall led to flash floods, discharges and river overflowing in Benue State in North-central Nigeria. 21 out of 23 local government areas in Benue are affected. [5] Flooding in the area is common due to heavy rains and the Benue River flowing through the area.
The flooding was similar to the severe one in 2012. The flood submerged two major bridges on River Guma at Tor Kpande and Mande Ortom. Farmlands and food barns were also destroyed in the affected communities. The newly constructed Daudu-Gbajimba, and University of Agriculture Makurdi roads, were not spared as they became impassable after several portions of the roads were washed away by the rising flood waters. [6] Agriculture in Benue faces several challenges which threaten the future of agriculture. Rainfall intensity seemed to be increasing with a gradual reduction. The average discharge at Makurdi hydrological station was 3468.24 m3s⁻¹, and the highest peak flow discharge was 16,400 m3s⁻¹. The daily maximum temperature and annual average temperature are gradually rising, leading to increased heat. Analysis showed that the soils are moderately fertile but, require the effective application of inorganic and organic fertilisers. The main occupational activities in the area are based on agriculture. [7]
On May 7, 2024, there was a flooding incident in Makurdi, Benue State, that affected various communities and vacuated many people. The event overwhelmed homes, businesses, and infrastructure. There by causing damages to buildings, social resources and agriculture of the immediate environment. [8]
- Affected areas include Kighir, Idye-Nenger, Zone 4, Wurukum, Wadata, Akpehe, Madonna, Judges Quarters, Gyado-Valla, and Achusa communities.
- The number of people affected has been estimated to be around 2,000.
Benue River, previously known as the Chadda River or Tchadda, is a major tributary of the Niger River. The size of its catchment basin is 319,000 km2. Almost its entire length of approximately 1,400 kilometres (870 mi) is navigable during the summer months. As a result, it is an important transportation route in the regions through which it flows. The name Benue comes from Binuwe, meaning 'Mother of Waters’ in the Batta language.
Benue State is one of the North Central states in Nigeria with a population of about 4,253,641 in the 2006 census. The state was created in 1976 and was among the seven states created at that time. The state derives its name from the Benue River initially called Ber-nor, a compound word in Tiv language which means river or lake of hippopotamus the name Ber-nor was corrupted to BENUE by colonial masters, the river is the second largest river in Nigeria after the River Niger. The state borders Nasarawa State to the North; Taraba State to the East; Kogi State to the West; Enugu State to the South-West; Ebonyi and Cross-Rivers State to the South; and has an international border with Cameroon to the South-East. It is inhabited predominantly by the Tiv, Idoma and Igede people. Minority ethnic groups in Benue are Etulo, Igbo, hausa and Jukun people etc. Its capital is Makurdi. Benue is a rich agricultural region; common crops cultivated in the state include oranges, yams, mangoes, sweet potatoes, cassava, soya bean, guinea corn, flax, sesame, rice, groundnuts and palm trees.
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