The Federal Government has issued a warning to Nigerians regarding the planned release of water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon.
According to The PUNCH, the announcement was made in a press statement signed by Umar Muhammed, Director General/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, on Tuesday.
According to the statement, the Lagdo Dam authorities will begin controlled water releases starting today, September 17, 2023.
The initial discharge rate will be 100 cubic meters per second (8,640,000 cubic meters per day), and is expected to gradually increase to 1,000 cubic meters per second over the next week, depending on the inflow from the Garoua River.
“The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency wishes to notify the general public that the Lagdo Dam authorities have informed us of their plan to start controlled water releases at a rate of 100 cubic meters per second beginning today,” the statement said.
“The discharge is expected to escalate to 1,000 cubic meters per second over the next seven days, contingent upon inflow from the Garoua River, which feeds into the Benue River.”
The statement reassured that the gradual nature of the water release aims to prevent overwhelming the Benue River system and causing significant flooding downstream in Nigeria.
“The dam operators have assured us that the planned discharges will be gradual to avoid exceeding the Benue River’s capacity and causing major flooding downstream,” it noted.
Despite the controlled releases, NIHSA emphasized that there is no immediate cause for alarm. “There is no need for panic as major flooding downstream is not anticipated since current flow levels along the Benue River remain within cautionary limits,” the statement affirmed.
The agency urged all states along the Benue River, including Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Edo, Delta, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River, and Rivers, to remain vigilant and implement measures to mitigate potential flooding.
“We urge all relevant government levels—Federal, State, and Local Governments—to enhance their preparedness to address any possible impacts from increased river flow,” the statement concluded.
NIHSA committed to ongoing monitoring and will continue to provide updates on river conditions to help prevent flood disasters.
