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The federal government of Nigeria has disclosed that the management of Lagdo Dam in Cameroon is set to release water from the reservoir, beginning from today 17th September, 2023. The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) made the disclosure on behalf of the government.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Lagdo Dam is a reservoir, covering an area of 586 km sq, located in the Northern Province of Cameroon on the Benue River in the Niger basin.
According to the NIHSA, States that are susceptible to be affected by the release of water from the Lagdo Dam are Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Edo, Delta, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River and Rivers.
The States have been advised to step up vigilance and deploy adequate preparedness measures to reduce possible impacts of flooding that may occur as a result of increase in flow levels of the major rivers in the country as a result of the release of the water.
Speaking on Tuesday in Abuja, Director General of NIHSA, Mr Umar Mohammed, stated that “following an official communication from the dam’s management, the water release will gradually increase over the next seven days”.
According to him, the initial release rate is set at 100 cubic meters per second (approximately 8.64 million cubic meters per day) starting Sept. 17, 2024, with potential increase to 1,000 cubic meters per second.
He noted that the final rate will depend on inflows from the upstream Garoua River, the primary source of the reservoir, which also feeds into the Benue River, a key waterway in Nigeria.
“The release will be regulated to ensure that water levels do not exceed the capacity of the Benue River system, preventing major flooding in downstream areas of Nigeria,” he added.
He reassured the public that measures are in place to control the flow and reduce flooding risk, with the release stopping once inflows to the Lagdo reservoir is manageable. He emphasised that there is no immediate cause for alarm, as water levels along the Benue River remain within safe limits.
He urged heightened vigilance from states bordering the Benue River, including Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Edo, Delta, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River and Rivers. He called on both federal and state governments, as well as local authorities, to prepare adequately for any potential rise in water levels to mitigate the risk of flooding.
Mohammed also assured the public that “NIHSA will continue to monitor river flow levels closely and provide regular updates to prevent emergencies.”
Recall that recently, the Niger Basin Authority has also warned of rising water levels in the River Niger, urging States along the river to remain on high alert for possible flooding.