Flood: Cameroun’s Lagdo Dam water release sparks fear

Following the heavy rainfall and the present devastation of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, due to the collapse of Alau Dam, Nigerians living in coastal areas are expressing fear and anxiety.

As a result, people in coastal states of the country are now on edge, over possible occurrence of similar calamities following the reported release of excess water from Lagdo Dam in Cameroun.

Reportedly, as of Tuesday, September 17, 2024, the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), gave a forewarning of likely severe flooding that will affect about 11 states across the country due to release of water from the dam.

The states likely to be affected by this flood include Taraba, Kogi, Cross-River, Bayelsa, Benue, Edo, Nassarawa, Rivers, Anambra, Adamawa, and Delta.

NIHSA also advised people, and government officials, at all levels in these states to increase their alertness and put in place appropriate safety measures to reduce the effect of flooding that may arise due to increase in flow levels of major rivers during this period.

Although, the flood disaster in Maiduguri and some other parts of Borno State was not caused by the release of water from Lagdo Dam, the fear is that the release of Lagdo Dam water may have more devastating effects than that of 2022.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that the water level of River Niger and Benue is on the rise due to heavy rainfall.

Residents in some communities, including Irri in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State are already moving out from riverine areas to dry lands, following the rise in water levels in some areas.

Emphasising the need for people to relocate from riverine area, the Director-General of NIHSA, Arch. Umar Muhammed, gave a forewarning in a statement.

Arch. Muhammed said: “The water release is expected to progressively increase to 1000m3/s over the next seven days.”

In the meantime, Muhammed’s warning has thrown those in the affected states into fear.

The government of these affected states are presently rushing to relocate people and also provide camps for internally displaced peoples (IDPs).

Also, the representative of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr. Ezekiel Manzo, has confirmed the development.

Mr. Manzo said that the release of excess water from the Lagdo Dam is ongoing, and will increase the water level of River Benue.

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