The Federal Government has issued a warning to Nigerians regarding the planned release of water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon.
The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), through its Director General, Umar Muhammed, announced on Tuesday that Cameroonian authorities will begin controlled water releases from the Lagdo Dam starting on Tuesday, September 17, 2024.
According to the statement, the water release will increase gradually over the next week, potentially reaching a flow rate of 1,000 cubic meters per second, depending on the inflow from the Garoua River upstream.
While the water release is expected to rise, it will be done gradually to avoid overwhelming the Benue River and causing major flooding in Nigeria. The water release will decrease as the inflow into the Lagdo Dam reduces.
NIHSA assured that there is no immediate cause for alarm, as significant flooding is not expected.
However, states along the Benue River, including Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Edo, Delta, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River, and Rivers, have been advised to remain vigilant and take necessary flood preparedness actions.
The agency’s statement reads: “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.
“The water discharge is anticipated to progressively escalate to 1000m³/s over the next seven days based on the inflow from the upstream Garoua River, which serves as the primary source into the reservoir and a significant tributary to the Benue River.”
NIHSA also reiterated that it will continue to monitor the water levels in the Benue River and Nigeria’s internal rivers and provide regular updates to prevent potential flood disasters.
The Lagdo Dam has historically been a source of flooding risk for several Nigerian states that depend on the Benue River. In recent weeks, severe flooding has already affected parts of Nigeria, particularly Borno State, where over 30 people have lost their lives, and over a million others have been impacted by the devastation.