Join our WhatsApp channel HERE for the latest Benue news and updates!
Residents of Anum Settlement, a bustling community tucked behind Achusa Market in Makurdi, Benue State, have issued a desperate plea to the state government for urgent intervention as they grapple with dilapidated roads and prolonged power outages. On November 11, 2025, their voices broke through the silence of neglect in a heartfelt appeal reported by Benue info-pedia, painting a grim picture of daily hardship in one of the state capital’s overlooked neighborhoods.
Speaking on behalf of the community, Liturgist Emmanuel Sesugh Iyo described the situation as nothing short of dire. “The road has become almost impassable, especially during the rainy season,” he told reporters. What was once a functional access route has deteriorated into a muddy, pothole-riddled nightmare, turning simple trips to the market or school into treacherous ordeals. Vehicles get stuck regularly, and pedestrians—especially children and the elderly—face constant risk of injury.
But the woes don’t end with the roads. For months, Anum Settlement has been plunged into total darkness due to a complete absence of electricity supply. “We don’t even have light as it stands,” Iyo lamented, highlighting how the blackout has compounded the community’s struggles. Businesses operating small shops, tailoring outfits, and phone-charging stations have either shut down or scaled back drastically, unable to afford generators or fuel. Families cook with firewood in dimly lit homes, children study by lantern or not at all, and security concerns mount as the cover of darkness emboldens petty crime.
The residents minced no words in their message to the Benue State Government: “This is the road to Anum Settlement behind Achusa Market, Makurdi. Please help project it so the government can help us.” Their call is not just for repairs but for recognition—recognition that they, too, are part of the state capital and deserve basic infrastructure.
The ripple effects of this neglect are severe. Local commerce around Achusa Market, one of Makurdi’s busiest trading hubs, suffers when customers and suppliers struggle to access nearby settlements like Anum. Transporters avoid the route, increasing costs for goods. Residents say the poor infrastructure has crippled business activities and made life difficult for families, with many forced to relocate or send children to stay with relatives in better-served areas.
Despite repeated complaints to local authorities, no tangible action has been taken. The community now pins its hopes on Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration, urging both the state government and relevant agencies—such as the Ministry of Works and the Jos Electricity Distribution Company—to act swiftly. “We hope our cries will attract attention and bring lasting relief to this long-neglected community,” the residents expressed, clinging to optimism amid frustration.
As Benue State navigates its development challenges, the plight of Anum Settlement serves as a stark reminder that progress in the capital cannot be measured by flyovers and streetlights in central districts alone. Peripheral communities like this one bear the brunt of systemic oversight, even as they contribute to the economic pulse of Makurdi through trade and labor.
Will Governor Alia hear this cry from the shadows of Achusa Market? Will a community left in the dark finally see light—both literally and figuratively? For now, the people of Anum Settlement wait, their plea echoing through the dusty, unlit paths they call home. The ball is in the government’s court.
