Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, NIHSA, has said, it will continue to monitor closely the flow situation of the transboundary River Benue and the national inland rivers and steadily provide regular updates on water levels across major rivers to forestall further flood disasters
Director-General of NIHSA Mr Umar Mohammed, made this known in a press release issued in Abuja.
The release quoted Mohammed, as saying that “Authority of Lagdo dam in Cameroon have informed the Agency that the dam management will begin regulated water releases at the rate of 100m³/s 18.640.000m³/day) on September 17, 2023. The water release is expected to increase gradually to 1000m³/s in the next 7 days depending on the inflow from the upstream Garoua River which is the main feeder into the reservoir and a major contributor to the Benue River”.
According to him, the Dam manager stated that the planned water releases will be gradual so as not to exceed the conveyance capacity of the Benue River system and cause major flooding downstream Nigeria.
He further stated that “The spilling of waters from Lagdo Dam is expected to stop as soon as there is noticeable decrease in flow into the Lagdo reservoir
“The Agency hereby wishes to state that there is no cause for alarm as major flooding are not expected downstream Nigeria as the flow levels along the River Benue are still within the warning levels.
“Notwithstanding, it is highly imperative for all states that are contiguous to the River Benue system, namely Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Edo, Delta, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River and Rivers, the government at all levels (Federal State and LGAs) to step up vigilance and deploy adequate preparedness measures to reduce possible imparts of flooding that may occur as a result of increase in flow levels of our mayor rivers at this period”, the Director-General stated.
AljazirahNigeria reports that the release of water from Lagdo Dam often results to flooding in many states. Recall that affected communities, individuals are yet to recover from their losses two years ago when the Dam was released and water overflood states along the Rivers Benue and Niger shore lines and communities , properties and farms were submerged .
