Apprehension over impending flood in Nigeria has been further heightened as the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) has confirmed Cameroonian authorities have commenced the release of excess water from Lagdo Dam.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Director General of NIHSA, Mr Clement Nze confirmed the development at a news conference in Abuja on Tuesday, but stressed there was no cause for alarm or apprehension of possible flooding in Nigeria.
Mr Nze noted that flood occurrences in major parts of the city and coastal areas were largely due to excessive rainfall and flash flooding, which he ascribed to climate change.
He said severe flooding with attendant damage and deaths could be minimised when relevant authorities took responsibility for preparedness, and ensured that people don’t build on flood plains.
TNG reports every year, neighbouring Cameroon, which runs along the length of Nigeria’s eastern border, releases water from Lagdo dam in northern Cameroon, causing flooding downstream in Nigeria.
It may be recalled that at the time of the dam’s construction, in the 1980s, the two countries agreed that a twin dam would be built on the Nigerian side to contain the overflow, but the second one was never realised.
According to Nze, the release of excess water from the Lagdo dam was a normal reservoir operation to forestall the possible collapse of the dam.
He said water releases are integral to safeguarding dam integrity and mitigating flooding in adjacent communities.
“The Lagdo dam is located on the Benue River in the Niger Basin. The Cameroonian authorities commenced the release of excess water from Lagdo Dam by 10.10 am on August 14, 2023.
“The release of water from the Dam commenced at the rate of 200 cubic metres per second, which is about 18 million cubic metres of water per day.
“By 25th August 2023, the water releases from the reservoir has reduced to 50 cubic metres per second, which is a normal reservoir operation and far negligible to cause any flooding downstream.
“However, by 5.16 pm yesterday, 28th Aug., 2023, the Hydrologist in-charge of the Dam notified the Director General of NIHSA that they stopped spilling water by 11.00am that same yesterday”.
The director general said the agency would continue to monitor water flows in rivers Niger and Benue, saying readings by the agency showed no threat of floods.
He said NIHSA was saddled with the responsibility to provide data for sustainable management of the nation’s vast surface and underground water resources, in partnership with key stakeholders.
He urged states to complement Federal Government’s efforts by sensitising their populace on flood disaster prevention, saying FG cannot do it alone.
He also called on states to clean up their drainage systems, construct more, and sanction those flouting the building codes, saying this was necessary to prevent disasters.
Speaking on the Dasin Hausa dam in Adamawa state, which was meant to be a buffer dam to prevent floods whenever Lagdo dam releases excess water, Nze said its study and design had been completed.
He said the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation had contacted the consultants, adding that procurement would commence in no distant time.
On dredging of rivers Niger and Benue to curtail excessive flooding, the director general said it was an expensive venture and would require desilting, saying if done properly, it would recharge groundwater in many locations.
Lagdo Dam: FG urges frontline States to start evacuating Nigerians
Earlier, the Federal Government had advised State governments in frontline areas to take necessary measures towards mitigating the potential impact Lagdo Dam floodgate.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Dr Betta Edu, gave the advice while issuing a flood warning alert during a meeting of the Presidential Committee on Coordination and Implementation in Abuja.
Edu said the call became necessary following the alert by the Cameroonian authorities to release the water from the country’s Lagdo Dam.
The minister who spoke at the instance of the Minister of Water Resources and that of Environment expressed the need for effective implementation of policies and rescue missions aimed at mitigating against the impacts of the flooding.
Edu while acknowledging the State Government’s zeal in tackling emergencies, urged them to ensure immediate evacuation of Nigerians living in flood front areas to safer destinations.
”State Governments have done quite a number of preparedness, we also appeal to the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) on the need to step up actions by ensuring immediate evacuation of Nigerians from various communities to safer destinations.
”Lagdo Dam floodgate has been opened by the Cameroonian authorities and that all the frontline States may experience flooding within the next seven days” she said.
She also pledged the readiness of the Ministry to work with Subnational and Local Governments towards providing shelters for the affected Citizens.
”Because, some of the people living in most of the communities who may be affected are afraid of losing their ancestral homes, despite the warning” she said.
She therefore assured Nigerians on the resolve of President Tinubu-led administration to put necessary measures in place to safeguard the lives and properties of Nigerians.
Also speaking, the Minister of Environment, Dr Iziaq Salako said the ministry has already activated the necessary flood warning alerts being release on hourly basis.
”Especially, on the water level of River Benue and River Niger as well as vulnerability level of the affected areas” he said.
Salako also said, the ministry has designed a veritable platform that will provide regular and real time information to Environmental Corespondents on the floor warning alerts without waiting for the Ministry.
He noted that recommendations on long term measures and solutions will be presented to Mr. President as part of ongoing efforts towards finding lasting solution to the menace of flooding.
He also reiterated the resolve of the present administration towards working with Cameroon authorities towards ensuring that the impacts of the release of Lagdo Dam floodgate do not result to loss of lives and property as well as ensure that the damages are minimized.
Also speaking, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, tasked Nigerians on the need to take necessary steps toward clearing drainages while government at all levels play their roles.
Utsev assured Nigerians that his ministry will on the long run ensure construction of dams as well as dredging of Rivers across the country with the view to end the menace of annual flooding, which has led to loss of several lives and property.
He also noted that the Ministry is already meeting with relevant stakeholders at various levels in the bid to control the waters.
The committee also assured Nigerians of its resolve to provide necessary medical support to Nigerians who may be affected by the flooding, including scourge of malaria and other water borne diseases.
TNG reports 32 states and the FCT, which are within the Highly Probable Flood Risks Areas include; Adamawa, Abia, Akwa- Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Ekiti and Edo.
Others are Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, as well as Zamfara and the FCT.
