Eleven States Alerted by Federal Government as Cameroon Announces Water Release from Lagdo Dam into Nigeria

The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) has raised concerns and issued a flood alert to Nigerians following the planned water release from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon into Nigeria. The Director-General of NIHSA, Umar Mohammed, revealed that the controlled water release from the dam is scheduled to begin on September 17.

The gradual release of water from the dam is expected to reach a flow rate of 1000m³/s over the next week, influenced by the inflow from the Garoua River, a major tributary to the Benue River. Emphasis has been placed on managing the water discharge carefully to prevent overwhelming the Benue river system and causing significant downstream flooding in Nigeria.

Once the water levels decrease in the Lagdo reservoir, the overflow from the dam is expected to subside. While the authorities assure that there is no immediate threat of major flooding downstream along the Benue River, cautionary measures are crucial for the states adjacent to the river system.

These states include Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Edo, Delta, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross Rivers, and Rivers, urging government stakeholders at all levels to stay vigilant and prepare adequately for potential flooding risks due to rising river levels.

Continuous monitoring of water levels and timely updates by the agency aim to prevent any adverse impact and safeguard against further flood disasters