The Federal Government stated on Saturday that severe flooding in the country has killed 28 people and displaced 48,168 others.
According to report, Lagdo Dam in Cameroon has been releasing water since October 1, 2023, a phenomenon that often causes severe flooding in Nigeria, it also aroused attention to states of impending floods on the River Benue line.
According to the National Emergency Management Agency, nine states may be affected: Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Anambra, Edo, Delta, and Bayelsa.
Mustapha Ahmed, the agency’s Director General, said this at an emergency meeting in which he provided an update on the flow of water from the Lagdo Dam.
According to Ahmed, the recent release of water by the dam has caused 48,100 people to be displaced throughout 13 states of the federation and may also cause infrastructure like crops to be destroyed.
159,157 people have been affected and 28 fatalities have been reported since the dam was opened on August 14, he said.
The NEMA DG urged the heads of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to mitigate the disaster’s impacts.
In his words:
“NEMA has been alerted on sudden increased inundation of riparian communities and farmlands along the banks of River Niger in Adamawa, Taraba and Benue states in the past 48 hours.
“The sudden situation is attributed to the rapid release of waters from Lagdo Dam in the Republic of Cameroon and has resulted in the displacement of several inhabitants of the affected communities.
“Furthermore, croplands and valuable infrastructure are at risk of getting washed away by the flood waters. Situation reports from Adamawa State confirm the upsurge of flood waters along the flood plains of River Benue.
“The situation is expected to be replicated in downstream states of Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Anambra, Edo, Delta and Bayelsa as the River Benue joins River Niger and flows to the Atlantic Ocean through the Niger Delta.”
cc: Daily Post Ng
