The Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) has issued a warning regarding the release of water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Director General Umar Mohammed informed the public that while water will be released from the dam starting September 17, 2024, there is no immediate cause for alarm as major flooding in Nigeria is not anticipated.
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The Lagdo Reservoir, situated in the Northern Province of Cameroon on the Benue River, covers an area of 586 km². The dam authorities have announced that water will be released at a rate of 100 m³/s (approximately 8,640,000 m³/day) and will gradually increase to 1000 m³/s over the next week, depending on inflows from the Garoua River, a primary contributor to the Benue River.
NIHSA’s statement reassures that the gradual release is designed to avoid exceeding the Benue River system’s capacity and prevent major flooding downstream in Nigeria.
However, it urges states along the Benue River system—including Kogi, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Cross River, and Rivers—to enhance their flood preparedness measures.
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The announcement comes as Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, continues to deal with the aftermath of severe flooding that has caused loss of life and displaced hundreds of thousands. NIHSA emphasizes ongoing monitoring of water levels and updates to manage potential flood risks effectively.