By Fatima Saka
Minister of Water Resources, Engr Suleiman H. Adamu has said 80% of flooding in Nigeria is as a result of water from the rainfall, not from lagdo dam, coupled with waterfalls across the country.
Adamu made this assertion on Wednesday in Abuja, when he appeared before the Senate committee on budget defence.
Meanwhile, Senator Adamu Aliero who raised the issue of floods in the country during budget defence of the Ministry of Water Resources and what efforts the ministry was doing about it set the stage for the disagreement.
The minister said that if looked critically, the existence of lagdo dam helps in reducing flooding into rivers Benue. Adding that the Cameroon authority only released water without notifying Nigerians Authority.
Admau further reiterated that, whenever the dam spill is released it has an impact on communities downstream. Adding that the lagdo dam spill is not enough reason for flooding in Nigeria.
He added that the transboundary waters that come into Nigeria from River Niger and Benin constitute only 50% of the freshwater that flows into Nigeria.
The minister further lamented that it takes a lot of effort to sign an MOU with Cameroon authority in regards to notification to Nigeria on when to release the dam spill. Adding that Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) are one the calling Cameroon authority to enquire on the level of water in lagdo dam.
He added that Cameroon should be the one keeping Nigeria informed but they didn’t. Adding that Cameroon only informed Nigeria after 24hours of releasing the dam spill.
” They did the same thing two years ago, Nigeria had to write a protection letter to the Cameroon authority that they didn’t inform Nigeria of the release of water and they denied it.
” This year’s flooding, Cameroon can’t be blamed, but they can only be blamed for violating the terms of agreement by not informing Nigeria on time.
“Nigeria and Cameron will review the agreement, an agreement is an agreement,”The minister said.
Admau further reiterated that the problems of flooding in Nigeria is as a result of land degradation and deforestation. Adding that when rain falls, it moves the sentiment into the rivers and that most of the rivers have already sit-up, which reduces the capacity of the rivers.
” The rivers can be dredged, but the challenge of dredging the rivers is costly, in order to reduce the cost.
” Nigerians need to plant more trees, also of course the Nigeria government needs to take the lead,” he added.
Also, in the creation of dams, the minister said it will require bigger budgetary allocations, adding that the feasibility will determine it and that in building dams the terms of resettlement will also determine it.
