The Federal Government has issued a warning to states along the River Niger and Benue axis as authorities in Cameroon begin the gradual release of water from the Lagdo Dam, a move aimed at preventing potential flooding in Nigeria.
The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) announced on Tuesday that the controlled water release started on September 17, 2024. In a statement issued in Abuja, NIHSA Director-General, Mr. Umar Mohammed, confirmed that the Lagdo Dam management communicated their decision to gradually increase the water discharge over the next seven days.
The initial release rate is set at 100 cubic meters per second, which equates to 8.64 million cubic meters daily, with the potential to escalate to 1,000 cubic meters per second depending on inflows from the Garoua River—the primary source of water for the Lagdo Dam and a major tributary to Nigeria’s Benue River.
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Mohammed assured the public that the release will be carefully regulated to prevent water levels from exceeding the capacity of the Benue River system, thereby minimizing the risk of significant flooding in downstream Nigerian states.
He called for increased vigilance in states along the Benue River, including Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Edo, Delta, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River, and Rivers. Federal, state, and local governments were urged to take necessary precautions and prepare for potential increases in water levels to mitigate flood risks.
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“The agency will closely monitor the situation and provide updates. While there is no immediate cause for alarm, precautionary measures are advised,” the statement noted.
This alert follows recent severe flooding in several northern states of Nigeria, where flash floods have destroyed homes, farmlands, and infrastructure. In Maiduguri, the collapse of the Alau Dam has led to significant parts of the city being submerged. In response to the devastation, the Federal Government announced a N3 billion support package to assist affected states