The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) has issued a flood alert to Nigerians as the management of the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon is set to begin controlled water releases into the country.
In a statement on Tuesday, Umar Mohammed, NIHSA’s Director-General, announced that the regulated water releases from the dam will start on September 17.
According to Mohammed, the dam managers plan to release water gradually to prevent exceeding the transfer capacity of the River Benue, which could trigger significant flooding in Nigeria.
He explained that the initial water release would be at a rate of 100 cubic metres per second (m³/s)—equivalent to 8.64 million cubic metres per day—with a gradual increase to 1000 m³/s over the following week.
“Nevertheless, it is crucial for all states bordering the Benue River system, including Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Edo, Delta, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River, and Rivers, along with the federal, state, and local governments, to heighten vigilance and implement preparedness measures to minimize potential flood impacts,” the statement read.
Mohammed also emphasized that the agency would closely monitor the situation to prevent further flood disasters. He reassured Nigerians that there is no immediate cause for alarm, as the current flow levels along the Benue River remain within warning limits.
Meanwhile, on September 10, a separate flood incident in Maiduguri displaced residents after the collapse of the Alau Dam, which had been at full capacity for the past week. According to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the disaster claimed over 30 lives and left more than 400,000 people displaced.
