Nigeria issues flood alert as Cameroon releases water from Lagdo Dam

The Federal Government of Nigeria has issued a warning to its citizens regarding the controlled water release from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon, starting from Tuesday, September 17, 2024.

This announcement was made through a press statement signed by Umar Muhammed, Director General/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency.

According to the statement, the water discharge is expected to gradually increase to 1000m³/s over the next seven days, depending on the inflow from the Garoua River. The dam operators have assured that the release will be gradual to prevent excessive flooding downstream in Nigeria.

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“The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency wishes to notify the general public that the authorities of the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon have communicated to the agency that they will initiate controlled water releases at a rate of 100m³/s (8,640,000m³/day) starting today, 17 September 2024,” the statement read.

This development has sparked concerns, as previous water releases from the Lagdo Dam have resulted in devastating floods in Nigeria.

In 2012, the water release caused over 10 deaths and significant property damage in Adamawa State. Similarly, in 2022, the discharge led to widespread flooding in 13 states, claiming 25 lives in Adamawa State alone.

Key Facts About Lagdo Dam:

– Location: Northern Province of Cameroon, on the Benue River.
– Reservoir Capacity: 7.7 billion cubic meters (initial), reduced to 1.6 billion cubic meters due to aging and siltation.
– Previous Flood Incidents: 2012 and 2022, resulting in loss of life and property

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