The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), has warned residents of Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, and Anambra states are likely to be flooded as a result of the release of water from Cameroon’s Lagdo Dam.
Mustapha Ahmed, Director-General of NEMA, revealed this at the National Emergency Coordination Forum meeting on Wednesday in Abuja, saying that other states expected to be affected include Enugu, Edo, Delta, Rivers, and Bayelsa.
He stated that states lying downstream must begin to make coordinated measures to address and alleviate the impact of the impending flooding.
The DG noted that the release of water from Cameroon’s Lagdo Dam, according to Ahmed, provoked the gathering.
He voiced that the country had begun releasing water from the dam at a rate of 200 cubic metres per second, or around 18 million cubic metres per day.
According to him, the spill might cause flooding in all border states in the coming days and weeks.
He stated:
“The states downstream of the River Benue are Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Anambra, Enugu, Edo, Delta, Rivers, and Bayelsa states. The information available from the flow level of the River Benue at the Nigerian Hydrological Service Agency (NIHSA) gauging station at Makurdi stood at 8.97 metres as of Aug. 25, 2023, compared to 8.80 metres on the same date in 2022.
“Also, NIHSA has provided that the flow level of the River Niger system, especially at Niamey, Niger Republic, remains stable at a normal level of 4.30 metres. Similarly, inland dams including Kainji, Jebba, and Shiroro reported consistent flow regimes.”
To avoid a flood calamity this year, all stakeholders should immediately evacuate Nigerians from diverse areas to safer locations, according to the director-general.
He urged Nigerians to remain calm, saying that the agency will continue to engage with other government partners to give assistance, including food and non-food items, to affected persons in IDP camps and host communities.
