The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) have been alerted on a possible flooding along the River Benue basin in a few days due to the imminent release of water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued the alert in a letter dated August 21, signed by the director of African Affairs, Umar Salisu.
Grow your business with us
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, East and Central African Division, in the letter, noted that it received a Note Verbale from the High Commission of the Republic of Cameroon indicating that Cameroon’s officials had resolved to open the flood gates of the Lagdo Dam on the Benue River.
The development, according to the letter addressed to the director general of NEMA, said it was due to increased rainfall in the dam’s catchment areas in Northern Cameroon.
The letter urged NEMA to take all the necessary proactive steps and actions to mitigate and avoid the damage that the released water may cause along the River Benue basin in both Cameroon and Nigeria.
It also urged the Agency to take proactive steps and actions to sensitise the populace living in such areas to be vigilant and take all necessary precautions.
The letter reads in part: “According to the Note, it is pertinent to note that when the release of water becomes necessary, the authorities of the Lagdo Dam will be releasing only modulated variable small amount of water at a time in order to mitigate and avoid damage that the released water may cause along the River Benue basin in both Cameroon and in Nigeria.”
UNITY TIMES recalls that over the years, there has been massive flooding in many states across the country attributed to the release of water from the Lagdo Dam.
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed in 2016 between Nigeria and Cameroon regarding the release of water from the dam, in which Cameroon will always inform Nigeria before it opens the gates to the dam.
However, in 2019, the dam was opened without prior notification, resulting in flooding in Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Kogi, and the Niger Delta regions during October and November of that year.
There was also flood devastation in 2022 leading to the loss of lives and properties worth billions of naira.