FG Puts States on Alert as Cameroon Begins Lagdo Dam Water Release

In response to Cameroonian authorities starting to release water from the Lagdo dam, the federal government has placed states along the River Niger and Benue axis on high alert. 

To lessen the possibility of flooding in Nigeria, the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) announced the progressive release of water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon. 

The dam’s management officially notified the decision to gradually increase water flow over the next seven days, according to a statement released by NIHSA’s Director-General, Mr. Umar Mohammed, on Tuesday in Abuja.

With the potential to increase to 1,000 cubic meters per second, the release rate will begin on September 17, 2024, at 100 cubic meters per second, or 8.64 million cubic meters per day. 

Mohammed said that the ultimate release rate would be determined by water inflows from the Garoua River, which serves as the Lagdo Dam’s primary source and feeds into Nigeria’s Benue River, an essential waterway.

The statement reads, “The release will be regulated to ensure that water levels do not exceed the capacity of the Benue River system, preventing major flooding in downstream areas of Nigeria,”

He called for increased vigilance in states along the Benue River, including Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Edo, Delta, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River, and Rivers.

He also urged federal, state, and local governments to take necessary precautions and prepare for potential water level increases to minimize the risk of flooding.

He assured the public that measures have been implemented to manage the water flow and minimize the risk of flooding, with the release set to stop once inflows to the Lagdo reservoir are under control.

He stressed that there is no immediate cause for concern, as water levels along the Benue River remain within safe limits.

Recent floods in Nigeria: In the past weeks, many states in the North have seen flash floods destroy homes, properties, and farmlands.

In Maiduguri, following the collapse of the Alau dam, major parts of the city have been underwater. In response, the federal government has announced an N3 billion support package to states nationwide.