The Nigeria Hydrological Service Agency (NIHSA) notified Nigerians on Tuesday that the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon has begun to discharge water. The warning was provided by Umar Mohammed, the Director General, DG, NIHSA, in a statement that he signed.
Mohammed says there’s no need to panic because major flooding is not predicted in Nigeria; however, the Federal Government and the States of Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, and Rivers should be ready to lessen the effects of the water.
“The Lagdo Dam authority in Cameroon has informed the Agency that the dam Management will begin regulated water releases at the rate of 100m³/s (8, 640,000m³/day) today, September 17, 2024,” he stated. “The Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency, NIHSA, wishes to inform the general public.”
“Depending on the inflow from the upstream Garoua River, which is the main feeder into the reservoir and a major contributor to the Benue River, the water releases are expected to increase gradually to 1000m³/s in the next seven days.”
The dam administrators did, however, add that the water releases will be gradually scheduled in order to prevent exceeding the Benue River system’s conveyance capacity and causing significant floods in Nigeria’s downstream areas. It is anticipated that the Lagdo Dam will cease to leak water as soon as there is a discernible drop in the Lagdo reservoir’s flow.
The Agency wants to clarify that there is no need for concern because the flow levels along the River Benue remain within the warning levels, meaning that significant flooding is not anticipated downstream in Nigeria.
However, given that all of the states that border the Benue River system—Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Kogi, Edo, Delta, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River, and Rivers—as well as the federal, state, and local government areas must increase alertness and implement appropriate preparation measures to lessen the likelihood of flooding caused by the rising river levels during this time.
The head of the NIHSA continued by stating, “To prevent further flood disasters, the Agency will continue to closely monitor the flow situation of the trans-boundary River Benue and the national inland rivers and steadily provide regular updates on water levels across major rivers.”
