The Federal Government and some states have alerted citizens to possible flooding incidents as Cameroonian authorities get set to release huge volumes of water from the Lagdo Dam.
Communities along the path of River Benue in Nigeria may be adversely impacted by the development.
According to the National Emergency Management Agency officials, no fewer than 11 states including Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Anambra, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers and Cross River are likely to feel the negative impacts of the opening of the dam.
The states on Sunday advised such residents to leave the areas to avoid impacts on human lives and valuable assets.
It was gathered on Sunday that Cameroon informed the Federal Government that it would soon open its Lagdo Dam.
The Director of the African Affairs, Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Umar Salisu, said in a letter dated August 21, 2023, that the ministry received a note from the High Commission of Cameroon as regards the opening of the dam.
The letter, which was addressed to the National Emergency Management Agency, read in part, “I have the honour to inform that the ministry is in receipt of a Note Verbale from the High Commission of the Republic of Cameroon informing that Cameroonian officials have resolved to open the flood gates of the Lagdo Dam on the Benue River in days ahead due to the heavy rainfall around the dam catchment area in Northern Cameroon.”
The letter stated that it was pertinent to note that when the release of water became necessary, the authorities of the Lagdo Dam would be releasing only a modulated variable small amount of water at a time in order to mitigate and avoid damage that the released water might cause along the River Benue basin in both Cameroon and in Nigeria.
“In view of the above, it would be appreciated if the esteemed agency takes all the necessary proactive steps and actions that will mitigate the damage as well as sensitise the populace living in such areas to vigilance and all necessary precautions.”
Lagdo Dam, located 50 kilometers south of the city of Garoua on the Benue River, often releases huge volumes of water when overflowing and this leads to flooding in various states downstream of Nigeria.
Based on this development, some states to be affected by the opening of the dam confirmed on Sunday that they would demolish structures on waterways, while others earmarked some schools to serve as camps for internally displaced persons.
The Head of Media and Public Relations, NEMA, Ezikiel Manzo, said the agency had informed the state governors, adding that the states had been advised on what to do to mitigate the impact of possible floods.
The Director-General of the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, Clement Nze, also confirmed the letter but noted that the dam had been releasing water before the letter was sent to Nigeria by Cameroon.
“Yes, that letter was signed on August 21, 2023, by the African Affairs officer at the foreign affairs ministry here in Nigeria. The Adamawa State Government issued a press release recently, which my permanent secretary drew my attention to last week, on Tuesday precisely.
“I got in contact with the manager of the dam last Wednesday and he confirmed that they opened the dam on August 14, 2023, at 10.10 am. He said they had been spilling water at the rate of 200 cubic metres per second, which is about 20 million cubic meters per day.
“So the letter to the foreign affairs ministry is just to officially state it, but they have been releasing water before issuing that letter. They also confirmed to me on Friday that because of the huge volume they have released downstream, they decided to reduce it to 50 cubic meters per second, which is about five million cubic meters per day.”
Meanwhile, Nze explained that the flow of the water from the dam had nothing to do with Niger, Kwara and Kebbi states, “but after reaching River Niger, it will start moving down to Edo, Delta, Anambra and then to Rivers, Bayelsa, before it enters the Atlantic Ocean.”
He noted that the flow could get to part of Cross River, but stated that there was no cause for alarm currently, though it was vital for the governors of the identified states to make all the necessary preparations.
