Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has called on the Federal Government to come to their aide over recent flooding in Makurdi, the state capital.

Ortom said this was to avoid a repeat of the experience of 2012.

Ortom made the appeal when he inspected flooded areas in Maiduguri yesterday, and described the problem as overwhelming.

He also lamented that the flood problem had arisen at the time his administration was facing challenges of salary payment.

The governor, however, called on those living in flood-prone areas across the state to relocate, just as he directed the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), to liaise with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to seek means of assisting those who have been displaced.

He frowned at building of houses on drainage channels and flood plains, stating that such structures would be demolished.

During the inspection, Ortom visited Radio Benue transmission adjoining station which has been submerged by water and also went to Katsina-Ala Street and areas adjoining where displaced residents appealed for assistance.

At the streets behind the Benue Civil Service Commission, Ortom was told that a contractor was given about N1 billion to provide drainage channels but absconded.He said the matter was being handled by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC).