Flooding in Lafia Submerges Houses, Urges Relocation

On Thursday, following a six-hour downpour, several houses in Lafia, the capital of Nasarawa State, were submerged by floodwaters. Princess Dr. Margaret Elayo, the Nasarawa State Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, visited the affected areas, which included Unguwar Nungu, Millionaires Quarters, and Bukan Sidi.

She cautioned residents against constructing buildings on water channels and attributed the flooding to depleted underground water sources, obstructed water channels due to refuse, and inadequate urban drainage systems. Elayo advised households in flood-prone areas to temporarily relocate to safer locations, confirming that no lives were lost in the incident.

She highlighted that indiscriminate waste disposal and aggressive land reclamation have exacerbated the flooding situation. Additionally, Mohammed Wada Yahaya, managing director of the Nasarawa State Urban Development Agency (NUDA), stated that Governor Abdullahi Sule has directed an immediate upgrade of the state city center development plan to prevent further loss of lives and property during the rainy season.