- Says suggestions for Buffer dams already submitted to Presidency
The Federal Government, through the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), has released information that the water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon which borders Nigeria has been released into River Niger and River Benue.
The information which was released since 17th of September was reiterated on Thursday by NIHSA’s DirectorGeneral, Umar Mohammed who was represented by the Agency’s Director of Operations and Hydrology, Femi Bejide on Channels Television.
The Agency’s head alerted Nigerians resident in floodplains to relocate immediately to safe spaces in anticipation of attendant floods that annually come with the release of water from the Lagdo Dam.
Bejide also said the Agency had met with the authorities in Cameroon and agreed that water from the Lagdo Dam be released “intermittently” for the River Benue and River Niger in Nigeria to be able to contain the volume of water to avoid flooding in 11 states at risk.
“The situation is that water from Cameroon’s Lagdo Dam has been released already since yesterday (Wednesday) and there is an agreement that the water should be released in phases.”
On Tuesday, the Federal Government alerted Nigerians of the unavoidable release of water from the Lagdo Dam by the Cameroonian authorities. Flood-prone states were also listed including Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Edo, Delta, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross Rivers, and Rivers.
The NIHSA boss said though there is calm and normalcy and the water is being regularised from the Lagdo dam, the currents are rising. He advised all Nigerians saying they have a role to play in preventing flooding as the previous release of water from the Lagdo Dam has caused constant flooding in Nigeria.
“Everybody has their part to play; as the Federal Government is doing its part, our agency is doing its part, NEMA is prepared, individuals should also have to do their part. They have to move from the floodplain.
“Houses also, have their drainages, they have to clean and clear their drainages. Water will find its way so the waterways should be cleared, and the drainages should be cleared to allow water to move. That is the responsibility of everybody.
“Look at your house, if your house is in the floodplain, please move, please move from the floodplain, it is an appeal,” the NIHSA boss stated.
FG propose Five Buffer Dams
Mohammed also stated that a report on viable solutions has been submitted to the Presidency, notinh that some of Nigeria’s dams have to be de-silted.
“What has to be done also is that there’s a report that has been submitted to the Presidency. We have to have buffer dams and five have been proposed and the Federal Government is looking at that already.
“But in the interim, some of our dams have to be de-silted, the tributaries of River Niger and Benue have to be expanded.
“I learnt that there is a little issue with the design and they are trying to amend the design. I believe that in the next two to three years that would have been put in place.”
The news of release of water from the Lagdo Dam comes days after waters from damaged Alau Dam overflowed and killed over 30 persons and swept away thousands of homes in Maiduguri, the capital city of Borno State.
Though flooding is a natural disaster, the frequency and detriment of its occurrence in Nigeria remains appalling. According to data from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), in 2022, flooding ravaged many states, claimed 665 lives, displaced 2,437,411 persons, and affected 4,476,867 persons.
In 2023, devastating floods affected 159,157 individuals, caused the loss of 28 lives, and displaced 48,168. The release of water from the Lagdo Dam contributed to some of the flooding cases experienced.
In 2024, NEMA said flooding affected 1,048,312 people between April and September 2024, displaced 625,239 persons and killed 259 lives.
