The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) has issued a critical alert to states along the Benue River, warning of potential flooding due to the planned release of water from Cameroon’s Lagdo Dam. According to the agency, this move, set to begin soon, could affect states including Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Edo, Delta, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River, and Rivers.
The agency’s Director General, Umar Ibrahim Mohamed, made this announcement in a statement on Tuesday, urging state governments and relevant authorities to take proactive measures to mitigate the impact of rising water levels. NIHSA emphasized the importance of increased vigilance and preparedness during this period, especially as the water release is expected to significantly increase over the next week.
Initially, the release will begin at a controlled rate of 100 cubic meters per second (equivalent to 8.64 million cubic meters per day), with potential increases up to 1,000 cubic meters per second, depending on the inflows from the upstream Garoua River, a primary contributor to the Benue River.
“The authorities in Cameroon have assured us that the release will be carefully regulated to prevent overloading the capacity of the Benue River and to avoid triggering large-scale flooding in downstream areas of Nigeria,” Mohamed stated.
NIHSA also reassured the public that current water levels in the Benue River remain within safe limits, and significant flooding is not anticipated at this time. The agency, however, committed to close monitoring and timely updates as the situation develops, urging all states to remain on high alert.
As communities brace for the controlled release, governments at all levels are being called upon to implement preventive measures to safeguard lives and property in areas likely to be impacted.
