The Federal Government alerted Nigerians on Tuesday about the release of water from Cameroon’s Lagdo Dam. This information was shared in a statement by the Director-General/CEO of the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, Umar Muhammed.
According to the statement, the dam authorities plan to begin controlled water releases on September 17, 2024. The discharge rate is expected to increase gradually to 1000m³/s over the next week, depending on the inflow from the upstream Garoua River.
The statement reads, “The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency informs the public that the Lagdo Dam authorities in Cameroon have notified the agency about initiating controlled water releases at a rate of 100m³/s (8,640,000m³/day) starting today, September 17, 2024. The discharge is anticipated to rise to 1000m³/s in the next seven days, based on the inflow from the upstream Garoua River, which is the main source for the reservoir and a significant tributary to the Benue River.”
READ ALSO: A 17-year-old fatally stabs mother in Florida, one year after killing father
It noted that “nonetheless, the dam operators have indicated that the planned water discharges will be gradual to avoid surpassing the conveyance capacity of the Benue River system and triggering substantial flooding downstream in Nigeria. “The overflow from the Lagdo dam is projected to cease once there is a noticeable reduction in the flow into the Lagdo reservoir.”
The agency assured that there is no need for alarm, stating that significant flooding downstream in Nigeria is not expected as water levels along the Benue River remain within cautionary limits.
It advised all states along the Benue River system, including Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Edo, Delta, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross Rivers, and Rivers, as well as all government levels (Federal, State, and LGAs), to “increase their vigilance and implement appropriate preparedness measures to mitigate potential flooding impacts due to rising flow levels in major rivers during this period.”
The agency reiterated its commitment to “closely monitor the flow conditions of the transboundary Benue River and national inland rivers, providing regular updates on water levels across major rivers to prevent future flood disasters.
READ ALSO: 18% Drop in Foreign Student Visa Applications Puts UK Universities at Risk
