Ahead of the reopening of the Cameronian dam, members of the public, especially in flood-prone communities have been warned to evacuate.
The PUNCH reported that the National Emergency Management Agency officials, stated no fewer than 11 states including Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Anambra, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers and Cross River are likely to feel the negative impacts of the opening of the dam.
It was also reported that Cameroon informed the Federal Government that it would soon open its Lagdo Dam.
The Director of the African Affairs, Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Umar Salisu, stated in a letter dated August 21, 2023, that the ministry had received information regarding the dam’s opening from the High Commission of Cameroon.
The letter, which was addressed to the National Emergency Management Agency, read in part, “I have the honour to inform that the ministry is in receipt of a Note Verbale from the High Commission of the Republic of Cameroon informing that Cameroonian officials have resolved to open the flood gates of the Lagdo Dam on the Benue River in days ahead due to the heavy rainfall around the dam catchment area in Northern Cameroon.”
In order to mitigate and prevent damage that the released water might cause along the River Benue basin in both Cameroon and Nigeria, the letter stated that it was important to note that the Lagdo Dam authorities would only release a modulated variable small amount of water at a time when the release of water became necessary.
“In view of the above, it would be appreciated if the esteemed agency takes all the necessary proactive steps and actions that will mitigate the damage as well as sensitise the populace living in such areas to vigilance and all necessary precautions.”
Addressing this latest development, the Head of Media and Public Relations, NEMA, Ezikiel Manzo, stated that the agency has informed state governors on the need to prepare ahead.
“We have introduced this into all our awareness programmes and in addition to that, NEMA has written to all the governors to alert them. We have also mentioned the things that they need to do in order to mitigate the impact of the flood.
“So what this means is that with this information concerning the excess water being released from the dam, it means that all the state governments along the River Benue axis, the time has come for them to match action with the information that has been given to them in anticipation of this flood.
“And some of the things they need to do is for them to immediately monitor the people and communities along the flood pathway and begin to move them away from danger.
“They (Lagdo Dam) are just beginning the release of the water, we don’t know, but if the rain increases and the release of the water continues, it means the people will need to move quickly out of the floodplain.”
