The Federal Government of Nigeria has issued a warning about potential flooding in 11 states following plans by Cameroon to release water from the Lagdo Dam.
This announcement was made on Tuesday in a press statement signed by Umar Muhammed, the Director General/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA).
According to the statement, controlled water releases from the Lagdo Dam are set to begin on Tuesday, September 17, 2024.
The release is expected to start at a rate of 100 cubic meters per second (m³/s) and progressively increase to 1,000 m³/s over the next seven days, depending on the inflow from the upstream Garoua River.
While the NIHSA emphasized that there is no need for immediate alarm, it urged states along the Benue River system, including Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Edo, Delta, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross Rivers, and Rivers, to stay vigilant and take necessary measures to mitigate possible flooding.
“The planned water discharges will be gradual to prevent exceeding the conveyance capacity of the Benue River system,” the statement read, adding that the situation would be closely monitored to prevent any major flooding downstream.
The Lagdo Dam, located in Cameroon’s Northern Province on the Benue River, has historically caused concern in Nigeria due to its potential to trigger flooding in states through which the Benue River flows.
The recent flood in Borno State, which claimed over 30 lives and affected more than a million people, has heightened anxieties surrounding the impact of the dam’s water release.
Authorities have assured the public that water levels in major rivers will be regularly monitored to prevent further disasters, with updates being provided as needed to ensure safety.
