The Federal Government of Nigeria has issued a flood warning to its citizens due to the controlled water release from the Lagdo dam in Cameroon, starting today, September 17, 2024 ¹. The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency announced that the water discharge will progressively escalate to 1000m³/s over the next seven days, based on the inflow from the upstream Garoua River.
According to the agency, the dam operators will implement gradual water discharges to avoid triggering substantial flooding downstream in Nigeria. The overflow from the Lagdo dam is expected to cease once there is a noticeable reduction in the flow into the Lagdo reservoir.
Affected States Urged to Take Precautions
The agency has advised states bordering the Benue River system, including:
- Adamawa
- Taraba
- Benue
- Nasarawa
- Kogi
- Edo
- Delta
- Anambra
- Bayelsa
- Cross-Rivers
- Rivers
to heighten their vigilance and implement preparedness measures to mitigate potential flooding impacts ¹. The government at all levels (Federal, State, and LGAs) is also urged to take necessary precautions.
No Cause for Alarm
The agency reassured that major flooding downstream in Nigeria is not anticipated since the flow levels along the Benue River are still within cautionary limits. They committed to diligently monitoring the flow conditions of the transboundary Benue River and national inland rivers, providing regular updates on water levels to prevent further flood disasters.
