The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) has issued a flood alert to Nigerians in anticipation of water releases from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon.
Umar Mohammed, the director-general of NIHSA, announced on Tuesday that regulated water releases from the dam are scheduled to commence on September 17.
According to Mohammed, the water will initially be released at a rate of 100 cubic metres per second (m³/s), equating to 8.64 million cubic metres per day. This flow rate will be gradually increased to 1000 m³/s over the next seven days. The releases are intended to prevent exceeding the River Benue’s capacity and causing major flooding in Nigeria.
Mohammed urged heightened vigilance in states along the River Benue, including Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Edo, Delta, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River, and Rivers, asking the ” the government at all levels (Federal, State, and LGAs) to step up vigilance and deploy adequate preparedness measures to reduce possible impacts of flooding that may occur as a result of increased flow levels of our major rivers at this period, ” he stated.
The agency also assured Nigerians that the current flow levels along the Benue River remain within warning levels, with close monitoring underway to prevent further flood disasters. However, concerns persist after a flood in Maiduguri on September 10 displaced thousands and resulted in over 30 deaths due to the collapse of Alau Dam.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) reported that more than 400,000 people were displaced as a result of the flooding. Authorities are now bracing for potential challenges in the days ahead as water levels rise.
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