There is palpable fear and tension in the riverine areas of Benue, Kogi, Edo, Delta, Anambra, Bayelsa, Rivers, as well as other southern states of Nigeria, as officials of the Government of the Republic of Cameroon has revealed plans to open the flood gates of Lagdo Dam.
This was contained in a letter signed by Amb. Umar Z. Salisu, the Director African Affairs, on behalf of the Permanent Secretary.
The letter by Cameroonian officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, East and Central African Division, dated August 21, 2023, was addressed to the Director General of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in Abuja.
The development, which is a fallout of heavy and unprecedented rainfall across certain areas of the globe, is expected to dump heavy flood waters along the aforementioned riverine areas.
In the letter entitled “Cameroonian officials to open the flood gates of the Lagdo Dam on the Benue River in Cameroon“, the officials informed of Cameroon’s resolve to open the flood gates of the dam on the Benue River in a few days ahead.
The Government attributed the move to the heavy rainfall around the Dam catchment area in Northern Cameroon.
According to the letter, the authorities of the neighbouring African country assured that when the release of water becomes necessary, only modulated variable small amount of water at a time will be released.
This, they said, is to mitigate and avoid damages that the released water may cause along the River Benue basin in both Cameroon and in Nigeria.
The Cameroonian officials urged NEMA to take all the necessary proactive steps and actions that will mitigate the damage.
They also urged the agency to sensitize the populace living in such areas for vigilance and to take all necessary precautions to secure lives and properties.
See a copy of the letter below:
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