The Federal Government issued a warning to Nigerians on Tuesday regarding the upcoming water release from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon.
This information was conveyed in a press statement released by Umar Muhammed, the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency.
According to the statement, the management of the Lagdo Dam is set to begin controlled water releases on Tuesday, September 17, 2024.
Part of the statement reads “It is expected that the water discharge will gradually increase to 1000m³/s over the course of the next seven days, influenced by the inflow from the Garoua River upstream.
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.
“Nonetheless, the dam operators have indicated that the planned water discharges will be gradual to avoid surpassing the conveyance capacity of the Benue river system and triggering substantial flooding downstream in Nigeria. The overflow from the Lagdo Dam is projected to cease once there is a noticeable reduction in the flow into the Lagdo reservoir.”
The agency, however, reassured the public that there was no need for concern.
“The agency unequivocally states that there is no need for alarm as major flooding downstream in Nigeria is not anticipated since the flow levels along the Benue River are still within cautionary limits.
“Nevertheless, it is of utmost importance for all states bordering the Benue River system, namely: Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Edo, Delta, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross Rivers, and Rivers, along with the government at all levels (federal, state, and LGAs) to heighten their vigilance and implement appropriate preparedness measures to mitigate potential flooding impacts that may arise due to an increase in flow levels of our major rivers during this period.
“The agency will continue to diligently monitor the flow conditions of the transboundary Benue River and the national inland rivers, and consistently provide regular updates on water levels across major rivers to prevent further flood disasters,” it added.
The dam is situated in the Northern Province of Cameroon, along the Benue River, which is part of the Niger basin. The lake formed by the dam spans an area of 586 square kilometers.
The management of water release from Lagdo Dam has raised significant concerns in Nigeria, particularly because it impacts several states as River Benue flows into the country from this point.
Recently, Borno State experienced severe flooding that resulted in the loss of more than 30 lives and affected over a million residents in the region.
