FG Warns 11 States As Cameroon Prepares To Release Lagdo Dam

FG Warns 11 States As Cameroon Prepares To Release Lagdo Dam

The Federal Government on Tuesday issued a warning regarding the release of water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon. This was announced in a statement signed by Umar Muhammed, the Director General of the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency…..CONTINUE READING 

According to the statement, authorities in Cameroon will begin controlled releases from the Lagdo Dam starting Tuesday, September 17, 2024. The discharge is expected to gradually increase to 1,000 cubic meters per second over the next seven days, depending on the inflow from the upstream Garoua River.

The statement explained, “The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency informs the public that the Lagdo Dam authorities in Cameroon have communicated that they will start releasing water at a rate of 100 cubic meters per second (8.64 million cubic meters per day). This will progressively rise to 1,000 cubic meters per second within a week, based on inflows from the Garoua River, which feeds into the dam and is a major tributary of the Benue River.”

The agency further clarified that the releases would be gradual to prevent overwhelming the Benue River system and causing major flooding downstream. The discharge will continue until there is a reduction in the inflow into the reservoir.

Despite the water release, the agency assured the public that there is no immediate cause for concern. “Major flooding downstream in Nigeria is not expected as the water levels in the Benue River are still within cautionary limits,” the statement said. However, it urged states along the Benue River—such as Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Edo, Delta, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River, and Rivers—as well as local and federal authorities to remain vigilant and take precautionary measures against possible flooding.

The statement also emphasized that the agency will continue to monitor water levels in the Benue and other rivers, providing updates to prevent flood-related disasters. The Lagdo Dam, located in northern Cameroon, impacts several Nigerian states because of its connection to the Benue River.

Recent floods in Borno State, which claimed over 30 lives and affected more than a million residents, have heightened concerns about potential flood risks tied to the dam’s water releases.