FLOOD: MBULA YOUTHS URGE FG TO BUILD DAMS, DREDGE RIVER BENUE

National Association of Mbula Youths have urged the Federal Government to build dams as well as dredge River Benue in order to  address perennial flooding.

The association during a world press conference in Yola, Adamawa state, said that building dams and dredging the river will end flooding as well as create employment opportunities.

Addressing newsmen, the Secretary of the association who is also the Spokesman, Emmanuel Nathaniel Aliyu, noted that the perennial flooding can be controlled if dams are built and River Benue is dredged. 

He disclosed that building dams and dredging the river will also encourage fishing on a commercial scale and boost agriculture through irrigation farming which will lead to economic viability.

According to him, the annual release of excess water from the Lagdo dam in Cameroon Republic and Kiri Dam in Shelleng Local Government Area do not only affect Mbula communities in Demsa but the state and beyond.

He added that the 2022 flooding affected Mbula Kuli, Borrong. Dilli, Dwam and several other communities, and observed with concern how some of our people at the moment sleep outside despite harsh weather conditions as a result of flooding.

 

"Our people can no longer continue to live on relief materials each time flooding occurs. Something has to be done to curtail annual flooding; otherwise, no one knows the level of damage will cause in the future",  he observed.

"As we address the world today over this menace, it is sad to note that most communities in Mbula are still flooded. People have been displaced, houses and farmlands completely submerged. We cannot continue to suffer like this", Emmanuel lamented.

He called on government at the state and national level as well as international community to assist their people by providing more relief materials such as food items, saying that it will help curb hunger and malnutrition among the inhabitants.

He commended Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, for his effort in reaching out to them whenever there is emergency situation and also passed a vote of confidence on the Chairman Demsa LGC for providing relief materials to the victims.