NEMA Warns Of Imminent Flooding As Cameroon Opens Lagdo Dam

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has alerted the nation of an imminent flooding on the River Benue line as the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon has been spilling water since October 1, 2023 which has killed 28 people since the rainy season.

Speaking at an emergency meeting with stakeholders in Abuja yesterday, the director general of NEMA, Mustapha Ahmed, said Adamawa State, which is one of the states on the River Benue line, is currently being devastated as 159,157 persons have been affected while 48,168 persons were displaced and currently in different camps.

He said some states including Adamawa, Benue, Taraba, Kogi, Delta, Edo, Anambra, Enugu, Edo, Delta, Rivers, Nasarawa and Bayelsa are currently affected by flood.

He also directed the activation of all emergency response units to be ready for any emergencies as the flooding would be increasing as the days go by.

The NEMA director general said: “The update from NEMA is that the agency has been alerted on sudden increased inundation of riparian communities and farmlands along the banks of the River Niger in Adamawa Taraba and Benue states in the past 48 hours. The sudden situation is attributed to the rapid release of waters from Lagdo Dam in the Republic of Cameroon and has resulted in the displacement of several inhabitants of the affected communities Furthermore, croplands and valuable infrastructure are at risk of getting washed away by the flood waters.

“Situation reports from Adamawa State confirms the upsurge of flood waters along the flood plains of River Benue. The situation is expected to be replicated in downstream states of Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Anambra, Edo, Delta and Bayelsa as the River Benue joins River Niger and flows to the Atlantic Ocean through the Niger Delta.

“I want to use this opportunity to alert authorities of state and local governments along rivers Niger and Benue basin areas to immediately activate their emergency response plans to avert potential damages and losses that will arise due to inundation of communities by flood waters.”