The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has issued a warning to Nigerians about the likelihood of flooding in nine states due to Cameroon’s release of water from the Lagdo Dam.
The affected states include Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Anambra, Edo, Delta, and Bayelsa. Mustapha Ahmed, the Director General of NEMA, disclosed this during a briefing in Abuja, highlighting that communities along the banks of River Benue in the mentioned states could face adverse effects from the released water. The release is expected to continue until the end of October.
Ahmed emphasized that the recent water release has already displaced communities and could result in further damage to crops and infrastructure.
He urged states and local government areas along the River Niger and Benue Basins to activate their emergency response plans to mitigate potential damage and losses caused by the flooding of communities.
As of now, 159,157 individuals have been affected by this year’s flooding, with 28 fatalities and 48,168 people displaced across 13 states in Nigeria. NEMA pledged to provide updates based on reports from relevant agencies.
