By Dauda Abbas
The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) has officially acknowledged the decision by Cameroonian authorities to halt the discharge of surplus water from the Lagdo Dam. Mr. Clement Nze, the Director-General of NIHSA, made this announcement during a news conference held on Tuesday, August 29, 2023, in Abuja.
Nze emphasized that there is no need for concern or fear of potential flooding within the country.
The recent instances of flooding in major urban areas and coastal regions can be primarily attributed to excessive rainfall and flash floods, directly resulting from the effects of climate change.
Nze stressed that the risk of severe flooding, along with the associated damage and loss of life, could be significantly reduced if the relevant authorities take responsibility for preparedness and enforce restrictions on construction within flood-prone areas.
It’s worth recalling that when the Lagdo Dam was constructed in the 1980s, an agreement was reached between the two countries, Nigeria and Cameroon, to build a corresponding dam on the Nigerian side to manage the overflow. However, the construction of the second dam never materialized.
Furthermore, Nze explained that the controlled release of excess water from the Lagdo Dam is a standard reservoir operation aimed at preventing the dam’s potential collapse and mitigating flooding in nearby communities. The Lagdo Dam is situated on the Benue River within the Niger Basin.
The Cameroonian authorities initiated the release of excess water from the Lagdo Dam on August 14, 2023, starting at 10:10 AM. Initially, the water was discharged at a rate of 200 cubic meters per second, equivalent to approximately 18 million cubic meters of water per day.
By August 25, 2023, the rate of water release had decreased to 50 cubic meters per second, which is considered a normal reservoir operation and poses no significant risk of downstream flooding.
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However, as of 5:16 PM on August 28, 2023, the hydrologist responsible for the dam informed the Director-General of NIHSA that the discharge of water had ceased by 11:00 AM on that same day.
The agency continues to monitor water levels in the Niger and Benue rivers and has reported no indications of impending floods.
NIHSA’s mandate includes providing data for the sustainable management of the nation’s extensive surface and underground water resources in collaboration with key stakeholders.
Furthermore, Nze urged states to complement the efforts of the Federal Government by raising awareness among their populations about flood disaster prevention.
He emphasized that the government cannot tackle this challenge alone and encouraged states to clean and expand their drainage systems while enforcing building codes to prevent disasters.
Regarding the Dasin Hausa Dam in Adamawa State, designed to act as a buffer dam against floods resulting from excess water release from the Lagdo Dam, Nze confirmed that the study and design phase had been completed.
The Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation had initiated contact with consultants, and procurement activities would begin shortly.
In addressing the issue of excessive flooding, he mentioned that the dredging of rivers Niger and Benue would be a costly endeavor, requiring desilting. When done correctly, it could recharge groundwater in numerous locations.
Lastly, Nze identified the 32 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) at high risk of flooding. These areas include FCT Abuja, Abia, Akwa-Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross-River, Delta, Ebonyi, Ekiti, and Edo. Additionally, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, as well as Zamfara and Adamawa, are all located within these highly probable flood risk areas.
