The Federal Government of Nigeria has alerted Nigerians about the planned release of water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon.
The announcement was made in a statement signed by the Director General/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), Umar Muhammed, on Tuesday.
According to the statement, “The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency wishes to notify the general public that the authorities of the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon have communicated to the agency that they will initiate controlled water releases at a rate of 100m³/s (8,640,000m³/day) starting today, 17 September 2023.” It also indicated that the water discharge is expected to gradually increase to 1000m³/s over the next seven days, depending on the inflow from the upstream Garoua River.
The release is a precautionary measure, with the dam operators stating that the discharges will be done gradually “to avoid surpassing the conveyance capacity of the Benue River system and triggering substantial flooding downstream in Nigeria.”
NIHSA assured Nigerians that there is no need for alarm. “The agency unequivocally states that there is no need for alarm as major flooding downstream in Nigeria is not anticipated since the flow levels along the Benue River are still within cautionary limits.”
However, states along the Benue River system, including Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Edo, Delta, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River, and Rivers, have been advised to remain vigilant. The agency emphasized the need for these states and all levels of government to implement preparedness measures to mitigate potential flooding.
NIHSA concluded by assuring the public that it will “continue to diligently monitor the flow conditions of the transboundary Benue River and the national inland rivers, and consistently provide regular updates on water levels across major rivers to prevent further flood disasters,” the statement concluded.
