Nasarawa: Flood hits Lafia, destroys homes, property

On Thursday, severe flooding struck several neighborhoods within Lafia metropolis including Unguwar Nungu, Millionaires Quarters and Bukan Sidi. The downpour began around 4:00 a.m. and persisted until approximately 10:00 a.m., causing water from blocked gutters to overflow into residential areas. Many residents were forced to evacuate hastily as fences and buildings were toppled by rushing water.

Cheke Emmanuel, a resident of Unguwar Nungu, described the flood's destructive impact, stating, "Water from the main gutter found its way into people’s compounds, pulling down some fences and a building. It also destroyed valuables in homes and created a lot of panic at the time of the flood." Despite the widespread chaos, no fatalities were reported.

The cause of the flooding was attributed to inadequate drainage and construction of Ember A and Ember B streets, leading to an accumulation of water in residential areas. The Nasarawa State Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Princess Dr Margaret Elayo, cautioned against building structures on water channels and urged residents in flood-prone areas to temporarily relocate to safer locations.

Dr Elayo also warned the government to take immediate action to address the ecological degradation contributing to the floods, which include depleted underground water sources and obstructed water channels.