The Federal Government of Nigeria has issued a critical alert concerning the imminent release of water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon, set to commence on Tuesday.
This development has put riverside communities and relevant authorities on high alert, prompting calls for increased vigilance and preparedness measures.
Umar Muhammed, Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), delivered the announcement in a statement detailing the planned water discharge.
According to Muhammed, “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 2024.”
The water release is expected to follow a gradual increase pattern, with projections indicating a significant escalation over the coming week.
“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,” Muhammed explained.
Despite the substantial volume of water to be released, the NIHSA has assured the public that there is no immediate cause for alarm.
The agency stated, “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.”
However, the NIHSA emphasized the importance of heightened vigilance, particularly for states bordering the Benue River system.
These include Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Edo, Delta, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River, and Rivers. The agency has called upon all levels of government – federal, state, and local – to implement appropriate preparedness measures to mitigate potential flooding impacts.
The Cameroonian authorities have assured that the water release will be conducted with caution.
“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 NIHSA statement read.
The agency has committed to ongoing monitoring of the situation, promising to “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.”
