NORTH EAST, SOUTH SOUTH RISKS FLOOD AS CAMEROON OPENS DAM AGAIN

Few states surrounded by the Benue River in Nigeria might be witnessing an upsurge, as Cameroon opens Lagdo Dam which subsequently caused heavy flooding in the states in the northe east and south south region.

Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Anambra, Edo, Delta and Bayelsa states may witnessed major flooding as they are surrounded by the River Benue.

This notice of the opening of the dam was communicated to the Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs by it’s Cameroonian counterpart.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, further relayed this notice to the National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA), In a letter signed by the Director African Affairs, Ambassador Umar Salisu on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Director General of NEMA, was put on notice of the decision of Cameroon.

In the letter Salisu said “I have the honour to inform that the Ministry is in receipt of a Note Verbale from the High Commission of the Republic of Cameroon informing that Cameroonian officials have resolved to open the flood gates of the Lagdo Dam on the Benue River in days ahead due to the heavy rainfall around the Dam catchment area in Northern Cameroon.

Adding that “According to the Note, it is pertinent to note that when the release of water becomes necessary, the authorities of the Lagdo Dam will be releasing only modulated variable small amount of water at a time in order to mitigate and avoid damages that the released water may cause along the River Benue basin in both Cameroon and in Nigeria.

“In view of the above, it would be appreciated if the esteemed Agency takes all the necessary proactive steps and actions that will mitigate the damage as well as sensitize the populace living in such areas for vigilance and all necessary precautions” he concluded.

The spokesman of The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Manzo Ezekiel has allayed the fear of Nigerians that actions are being taken to ensure minimum damage over the planned release of the excess water from Lagdo Dam.

He disclosed that “The Agency is working with critical stakeholders at the Federal, States and Local Governments to ensure that the release will not cause much negative impacts on the low-lying communities along the states that would be affected.”