The Benue River, previously known as the Chadda River or Tchadda, is a major tributary of the Niger River. At the point of confluence, the Benue exceeds the Niger by volume, underscoring its significance in the region's hydrology.
Niger River Basin Map
Geography and Climate
The size of the Benue River's catchment basin is 319,000 km2 (123,000 sq mi). The river's large tributaries include the Faro River, the Gongola River, and the Mayo Kébbi. The Mayo Kébbi connects the Benue with the Logone River (part of the Lake Chad system) during floods.
Benue State, through which the river flows, experiences a tropical savanna climate. This region is warm every month of the year, characterized by both wet and dry seasons.
Flooding and Disaster Management
Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has conducted a “disaster risk management analysis.” NEMA advised Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to take proactive steps to mitigate the impact of climate change. The agency advised that water bodies across some states be desilted and dredged regularly to make water available for various purposes.
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On September 23, 2022, flooding affected all riverine local government areas of Benue, according to the state Commissioner for Water Resources and Environment, Godwin Oyiwona. In October 2022, farmers in Adamawa State struggled to clear off remnants of crops destroyed by the flooding. The disaster disrupted many communities across Nigeria’s 36 states, with hundreds of villages and urban centers submerged in water.
The disaster unsettled over 2.4 million people, and over 600 fatalities were recorded. The worst hit were mostly residents of agrarian communities near major tributaries in seven of the 21 local government areas in the state. Within three months, 12 Local Government Areas (LGAs) were submerged, affecting 82,730 residents, 13,788 households, 51 people injured, and 27 deaths.
Finding A Permanent Solution To Perennial Floods In Nigeria Pt.1 |Big Story|
Government Initiatives
President Muhammadu Buhari inaugurated a 3.35-km drainage channel project in Makurdi, Benue, to address ecological challenges in the Idye Community. The project, part of the 17 ecological intervention projects, was approved by the President in the fourth quarter of 2017 and completed in 48 weeks. News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Idye Community was among the worst-hit areas of the 2017 flood that displaced over 120,000 persons in the Benue capital, Makurdi.
Environmental Concerns
Benue Hike Tourism and Conservation Foundation, in an attempt to keep the river protected from various forms of pollution, informed the Benue State Government about the irregularities of some companies in the state for emptying waste in the river. Waste like ethanol, that could easily cause damage to human and aquatic life, was dumped into Benue River.
Snake Infestation After Flooding
The Benue River flooded in October 2012, resulting in a large increase in the population of venomous snakes in the Duguri District, Alkaleri Local Government Area, Bauchi State. A July 2013 report indicated that over 200 people in the district had died of snakebite.
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Key Facts About the Benue River
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Major Tributary Of | Niger River |
| Catchment Basin Size | 319,000 km2 (123,000 sq mi) |
| Significant Tributaries | Faro River, Gongola River, Mayo Kébbi |
| Climate of Benue State | Tropical savanna climate |
Flood Alerts in Nigeria
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