The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, NIHSA has announced the planned release of excess water from Lagdo Dam in Cameroon, beginning Tuesday, September 17, 2024.
NIHSA in a statement said the Lagdo Dam authorities had informed Nigeria that they will release water at a rate of 100 cubic meters per second , which will gradually increase to 1000 cubic meters per second over the next seven days, depending on inflows from the upstream Garoua River, which is a major tributary of the Benue River.
NIHSA assures that despite the release, no major flooding is expected downstream in Nigeria, as water levels along the Benue River remain within manageable warning levels. The gradual water discharge is designed to prevent overwhelming the river’s conveyance capacity, reducing the risk of severe flooding.
NIHSA said while it remains committed to closely monitoring water levels in the transboundary Benue River and Nigeria’s national inland rivers, however urged states along the Benue River, including Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Edo, Delta, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River, and Rivers, to maintain heightened vigilance. Federal, state, and local governments are encouraged to implement preparedness measures to mitigate potential flooding impacts.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
