FG Alerts Nigerians as Cameroon Begins Water Release from Lagdo Dam

The Federal Government has alerted Nigerians about the release of water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon.

EKO HOT BLOG reports that this was announced in a press statement issued on Tuesday by Umar Muhammed, the Director General/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA).

According to the statement, the authorities of the Lagdo Dam will begin controlled water releases starting on September 17, 2024. The water discharge is expected to gradually increase to 1000 cubic meters per second (m³/s) over the next seven days, depending on inflows from the upstream Garoua River.

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“The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency informs the public that the authorities of the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon have notified the agency that they will start releasing water at a controlled rate of 100m³/s (8,640,000m³/day) from September 17, 2023.

“The discharge is expected to increase to 1000m³/s in the next seven days, based on inflows from the Garoua River, the main tributary into the reservoir and a key contributor to the Benue River.

“However, the dam operators have assured that the release will be gradual to prevent exceeding the Benue River’s capacity and avoid significant flooding downstream in Nigeria. The overflow from the dam will stop once there is a decrease in inflow into the reservoir,” the statement explained.

Despite this, the agency emphasized that there is no need for panic.

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“The agency asserts that there is no cause for alarm, as major flooding downstream in Nigeria is not expected. Current flow levels along the Benue River remain within cautionary limits.

“However, it is crucial for all states bordering the Benue River—Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Edo, Delta, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River, and Rivers—along with Federal, State, and Local Governments, to stay vigilant and implement necessary preparedness measures to mitigate potential flooding due to rising river levels during this period.

“The agency will continue to closely monitor the flow conditions of the Benue River and other inland rivers across the country, providing regular updates to prevent further flood disasters,” the statement concluded.

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