2017 Benue State flooding

Weeks of rainfall led to flash floods, discharges and river overflowing in Benue State, north-central Nigeria, affecting more than 100,000 people across 21 local government areas in the state.[6]

Flooding in the area is common due to heavy rains and the Benue River, which runs through the area.[7] The flood disasters have displaced several families from their homes and are currently squatting with friends and relatives,[8] over 1,000 houses were destroyed and thousands of people displaced during flood disaster in five communities in the state.

Flooding in Benue State in 2012 was a severe one which repeated again in 2017,The flood submerged two major bridges on River Guma at Tor Kpande, and Mande Ortom. Farmlands and food barns were also destroyed in the affected communities.The newly constructed Daudu-Gbajimba, and University of Agriculture Makurdi roads, were not spared as they became impassable after several portions of the roads were washed away by the rising flood waters.[9] Agriculture in the Benue faces several challenges which threaten the future of agricultural development.Rainfall intensity seemed to be increasing with a gradual reduction average discharge at Makurdi hydro number of rainy days. The average discharge at Makurdi hydrological station was 3468.24 cubic metres per second (m3 s-1), and the highest peak flow discharge was 16,400 m3 s-1. The daily maximum temperature and annual temperature average are gradually rising leading to increased heat, analysis showed that the soils are moderately fertile but require effective application of inorganic and organic fertilisers. The main occupational activities in the area are agricultural based. [10]