Nigeria to see another devastating flood, FG plans response
By Babajide Adekunle
As Nigeria deals with the destruction caused by flooding in Maiduguri, Borno State, another flood is expected to affect 11 states. The states, all of which shares proximity with the Benue River system, are Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Edo, and Delta. Others are Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross Rivers, and Rivers.
Umar Muhammed, director general/chief executive officer of the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, stated that the Lagdo Dam, located in Cameroon, would release its water from September 17 2024.
“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 2023.
“The water discharge is anticipated to progressively escalate to 1000m³/s over the next seven days based on the inflow from the upstream Garoua River, which serves as the primary source into the reservoir and a significant tributary to the Benue River.
“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,” he said.
The agency said that there was no reason to far, in as much as the water release is “still within cautionary limits.”
The agency equally urged states governments to begin to plan their responses to the flood.
