The recent decision to release substantial volume of water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon has put states along the path of the River Benue in Nigeria on high alert for potential flood disasters within their territories.
To avert potential loss of life and property caused by flood, authorities in the states that could be affected have urged residents residing in flood-prone areas to evacuate their communities.
The Cameroonian government had in a letter addressed to the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, weekend, warned of its intention to release water from the Lagdo dam and asked the agency to take precautionary measures.
Lagdo Dam, located 50 kilometers south of the city of Garoua on the Benue River, often releases huge volumes of water when overflowing and this leads to flooding in various states downstream of Nigeria.
According to the National Emergency Management Agency officials, no fewer than 11 states including Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Anambra, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers and Cross River are likely to feel the negative impacts of the opening of the dam.
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However, states said they had already started taking steps to prevent loss of lives and destruction of properties.
Some states to be affected by the opening of the dam confirmed on Sunday that they would dismantle structures situated in waterways, while others have designated specific schools to function as temporary shelters for internally displaced persons.
We are opening drainages and demolishing illegal structures blocking the waterways. – Delta govt
Delta State government said it is opening drainages and demolishing illegal structures blocking the waterways to mitigate the effect of flooding in the state.
The government also said it will not hesitate to set up internally displaced persons, IDP, camps in the event of any severe flooding.
Chief Press Secretary to the State Governor, Sir Festus Ahon said: “We believe and hope that if we open up the drainages, it will help to reduce the effects of the flood. However, we advise those living in coastal communities to start moving to higher grounds.
‘’As it stands now, if need be, the state government will not hesitate to set up IDP camps for flood victims.’’ Bayelsa govt asks FG to come to states’ rescue.
Similarly, Mr Daniel Alabrah, Chief Press Secretary to Bayelsa State governor said: “As a government we have opened up major canals and water channels.
‘’The governor has also set up flood and erosion control directorate which has since commenced operations because of our experience last year.”
He, however, urged the Federal Government to take the necessary steps to support states in tackling the menace of flooding instead of just issuing alerts.
His words: “We cannot dredge the rivers because of the NIWA Act which vests such power on the Federal Government. If the federal government does it part by dredging the River Benue and River Niger, the impact on states will be minimal.
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‘’We need the Federal Government to play key roles. The Federal Government issuing warning or alerts to states is not enough.
‘’You know we do not have the resources to tackle this issue but the state government is currently handling shoreline protection work in some communities. “
We’ve ordered evacuation, other measures underway – Benue Gov’t
Similarly, Benue State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, said it has directed all those living on flood plains across the state to vacate such places to safer areas.
Executive Secretary of the agency, Sir James Iorpuu, issued the warning yesterday while reacting to the alert from the Federal Government to states on the impending flood, following notification from Cameroonian authorities of the release of water from the Lagdo dam on Benue River due to heavy downpour in Northern Cameroon.
Speaking through the Head of Administration of the agency, Mr. Donald Komgbebda, the executive secretary said the agency is intensifying its awareness campaign to have the people prepared for the impending flood.
He said: “What we are doing now is to intensify the awareness campaign across the state to ensure that all those on flood plains vacate such areas.
“We also have plans to take steps to mitigate the affect of the flood on the people but for now the priority is to get the people to safer places.
“Though we also have contingency plans and we will not allow our people be subjected to untold hardship following the flood.
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‘’All stakeholders in the matter will be mobilised to ensure that all hands are on deck to take actions to mitigate the impact of the impending flood.”
Governor Hyacinth Alia recently also appealed to all those on the banks of River Benue and flood plains to vacate those areas.
The governor, who spoke while flagging off the distribution of food and nonfood items donated by the National Emergency Management Agency,2022 flood disaster in the state, also appealed to residents to immediately commence clean-up of gutters and waterways in order to help mitigate effect of the flood in the state.
Measure underway, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Taraba Gov’ts say
Reacting to the alert from Cameroon government yesterday, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Emergency Management Authority, LASEMA, Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, assured of the state government’s preparedness to promptly tackle any possible emergency that could arise from the impending flood in the state.
According to him, the state government has provided LASEMA with 144 units of facilities that could accommodate 5,000 Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, in the event of any emergency.
He said: “Lagos is well prepared. As you can see, LASEMA has changed from management to holistic emergency management.”
Meanwhile, the Public Relations Officer of the State Emergency Management Authority in Anambra, Chinyere Nwoye, who said they had been alerted of the impending flood, said the state had begun early warning sensitisation to all the Local Government Areas that experience flooding.
“The state government and its international partners have carried out early warning sensitisation to all the Local Government Areas which experience flooding. And holding centres are getting ready now,” Nwoye said.
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On their part, the Niger State Emergency Management Agency said it was aware of the plans by Cameroon to open its Lagbo Dam and had prepared its communities in case of any eventuality.
The Public Relations Officer of the agency, Ibrahim Hussain, disclosed that residents of would-be affected communities were already moving to safe zones including schools and public centres.
In Taraba, the state government said it had alerted six local government areas and issued warnings to residents living in flood-prone areas to relocate to safer areas.
The Commissioner for Information and Re-orientation, Zainab Jalingo, said communities around Karim-Lamido, Lau, Ardo-Kola, Gassol, Wukari, to Ibi local government areas would be affected.
“I want to alert the general populace, and particularly those residing within the environs of the River Benue valley, of a matter of utmost importance.”
In Nasarawa, the state government announced its decision to demolish all structures built on waterways across the 13 local government Areas of the state in a bid to tackle issues relating to flooding.
‘Dam opening began August 14’
The Director-General of the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, Clement Nze, said that the dam had been releasing water before the letter was sent to Nigeria by Cameroon.
“Yes, that letter was signed on August 21, 2023, by the African Affairs officer at the foreign affairs ministry here in Nigeria. The Adamawa State Government issued a press release recently, which my permanent secretary drew my attention to last week, on Tuesday precisely.
“I got in contact with the manager of the dam last Wednesday and he confirmed that they opened the dam on August 14, 2023, at 10.10 am. He said they had been spilling water at the rate of 200 cubic metres per second, which is about 20 million cubic meters per day.
“So the letter to the foreign affairs ministry is just to officially state it, but they have been releasing water before issuing that letter. They also confirmed to me on Friday that because of the huge volume they have released downstream, they decided to reduce it to 50 cubic meters per second, which is about five million cubic meters per day.”
Nze added that the flow of the water from the dam had nothing to do with Niger, Kwara and Kebbi states, “but after reaching River Niger, it will start moving down to Edo, Delta, Anambra and then to Rivers, Bayelsa, before it enters the Atlantic Ocean.”