Flooding will persist without dredging of Rivers Benue, Niger – BSEMA boss warns warns

The Executive Secretary of the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BSEMA), Dr. James Iorpuu, has cautioned that Nigeria will continue to suffer devastating annual floods unless urgent steps are taken to dredge Rivers Benue and Niger.

Speaking with journalists in Makurdi, Dr. Iorpuu explained that the lack of dredging and proper river management has made flooding a recurring disaster, displacing thousands of residents across the country each year.

He revealed that in Benue State alone, 17 out of 23 local government areas are currently under attack from various crises, leaving hundreds of thousands of people homeless and economically stranded. Only Ogbadibo, Ohimini, Konshisha, Gboko, Ushongo, and one other council have remained unaffected, he said.

The BSEMA boss, who also serves as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, said the federal government must treat the dredging of major rivers as a national priority to prevent further humanitarian crises.

According to him, the recently concluded Conference of State Emergency Management Agencies in Lagos provided valuable insights for improving disaster response and coordination across states.

He also commended Governor Hyacinth Alia’s proactive leadership in addressing emergency situations, describing his administration as transparent and result-driven.

Dr. Iorpuu maintained that under Alia’s watch, Benue State has demonstrated resilience in the face of multiple challenges, calling for continued collaboration between federal and state authorities to protect vulnerable communities from displacement and flooding.