The Federal Government of Nigeria has warned the public about the planned release of water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon, News About Nigeria reports.
The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) announced on Tuesday that controlled discharges of water from the dam will begin on September 17, 2023.
In a statement, Umar Muhammed, Director General of NIHSA, explained that the dam’s operators will initially release water at 100 cubic metres per second (100m³/s), equivalent to 8,640,000 cubic metres per day.
This discharge is expected to increase gradually to 1000 m3/s over the next week, depending on inflows from the Garoua River, which is a key source for the dam.
“The authorities of the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon have informed us that they will commence controlled water releases at a rate of 100 m3/s today, September 17, 2023. The discharge is expected to progressively escalate to 1000 m/s over the next seven days,” Muhammed said.
He said that the water release would be gradual to avoid overwhelming the Benue River system, which could cause severe flooding downstream in Nigeria.
The overflow is expected to stop once inflows into the dam’s reservoir decrease.
Despite the planned release, NIHSA reassured the public that major flooding is not anticipated.
The agency noted that current flow levels in the Benue River remain within safe limits.
“There is no immediate cause for alarm, as the risk of major flooding downstream is low,” Muhammed stated.
“However, we urge states along the Benue River system, including Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Edo, Delta, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River, and Rivers, to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions.”
Muhammed also advised federal, state, and local governments to implement measures to mitigate the risk of flooding that could arise as water levels increase in major rivers during this period.
NIHSA will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide regular updates on water levels to prevent further flood-related disasters.
