A heavy flood on Tuesday morning blocked the ever-busy Makurdi–Abuja road at the Guma axis of Benue State, leaving hundreds of motorists stranded just hours before President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s scheduled visit to the state.
The incident occurred amid heightened security preparations for the President’s visit, which includes a condolence stop in Yelwata following the recent killings in the area. The flooding, caused by torrential overnight rain, submerged a critical portion of the road, bringing vehicular movement to a halt and complicating logistics for presidential aides, security operatives, and local authorities.
Eyewitnesses reported that travellers, including commercial drivers, were forced to wait for several hours as emergency response teams struggled to clear the water or create alternative paths. Some commuters reportedly began to seek detours through bush paths and rural roads.
The disruption comes at a sensitive time, with President Tinubu expected to express solidarity with communities affected by violent attacks that claimed dozens of lives in the Yelwata area. The flooding has not only delayed travel plans for many but has also raised concerns over the region’s infrastructure resilience and emergency response mechanisms.
As of press time, it was unclear if the flood would affect the President Tinubu’s itinerary. Security and government officials have yet to release an official statement regarding route adjustments or contingency measures.
This development underscores the multiple challenges, environmental and security-related, confronting Nigeria’s North Central region as it awaits the President’s visit.
