By SAM ADZEGEH, Makurdi –
Residents of Agber, a community in Makurdi the Benue State capital were full of gratitude to the Federal Government and the Hydro-Electric Power Production Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC) for the ongoing work on the erosion control project which passes through the settlement.
The residents, who spoke to NATIONAL ACCORD after a two-day down pour which lasted throughout last week Wednesday night, said the canal had saved the settlement from being washed away.
They also commended Hon. Terfa Tyav, HYPPADEC Chief Executive for the quality of work done on the drainage project.
One of the residents, John Buter in his comments, recalled that similar rains last year had destroyed more than twenty houses and washed away hectares of harvested rice produce in the area.
He said : “We really thank God for this project,” he told this reporter. “Yesterday’s rain almost over ran the drainage itself. If not for the drainage, many houses would have been destroyed and who knows how many people would have drowned?”
Paul Hindan Asa, another resident, said President Muhammadu Buhari deserved high praise for initiating the project.
“Through Mr. President, God has answered our prayers at last. We have been fervently praying for a solution to the problem of flooding in this settlement. Thank God for President Buhari; thank for for HYPPADEC,” he exulted.
Others who expressed joy at the project include Pst. Samuel Omaji, Mr. Paul Zakerga and several others who promised to organize a thanksgiving service in gratitude to God for the drainage canal.
NATIONAL ACCORD recalls that torrential rains which started at about midnight last Wednesday and continued till Thursday afternoon, left most parts of the vast settlement almost submerged in muddy water.
Total flooding of the settlement was however prevented by the gigantic drainage canal being constructed through the settlement by HYPPADEC.
The canal drains water from higher areas of the Makurdi metropolis as far as Wurukum, more than twenty kilometres away and empties it into the River Benue at the Wadata side of the Benue State capital.
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