The federal government on Saturday assessed the Makurdi-Gboko-Katsina-Ala highway following the overflow of River Dura on the road.

During the assessment, Robert Umezulike, the deputy director of hydrology at the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, said an overflow of the River Dura in Buruku LG caused the flood.

Aside from the flood that took over the road, the federal highway connecting Benue and Taraba has been completely cut off at Abekwa settlement, close to River Dura.

Commuters were made to sleep by the roadside for days before they could pass a distance of less than a kilometre.

Mr 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.

Mathias Ager, the district head of Mbaakura Ward, said the flood has also submerged their houses, farms, and property.

Mr Ager said the level of water that overflowed on the highway in the area anytime there was rain showed 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, currently cut off at Abekwa settlement, close to the River Dura bridge.

(NAN)