The House of Representatives has mandated its Committee on Finance to make adequate budgetary provisions for the Dasin Hausa Dam in Adamawa State in the 2025 Appropriation Act to tame the perennial flooding in Nigeria, due to the opening of Lagdo Dam, Cameroon.
The House also mandated the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and that of Works to expedite the completion of the Dasin Hausa Dam which will act as a buffer and help to absorb excess water released from the Lagdo Dam and the rehabilitation of critical infrastructure in flood-prone areas.
These were sequel to the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved by the House Minority Leader, Hon. Kingsley Chinda at plenary on Tuesday.
Chinda in the motion, expressed concern the Lagdo Dam, located on the Benue River in northern Cameroon, was built in 1982 primarily for irrigation and electricity generation but every year, during the rainy season, the dam operators in Cameroon release excess water to prevent overflow, which flows into Nigeria, causing significant flooding in states along the river, including Borno, Adamawa, Benue, Taraba, Kogi, among others.
He expressed worry over the recurrent loss of lives, displacement of communities, destruction of farmlands, livestock, and homes, and damage to critical infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, schools, and healthcare facilities, as a result of this flooding.
The lawmaker noted that despite early warnings by the Nigerian authorities about the release of water from the Lagdo Dam, many communities remain unprepared and are left vulnerable to the devastating impacts of the floods.
Chinda said the proposed Dasin Hausa Dam in Adamawa State was agreed upon in principle between Nigeria and Cameroon to help contain the excess water from the Lagdo Dam but the project has remained stalled for years due to funding and bureaucratic delays.
He said there was, “urgent need for the Federal Government to develop long-term solutions to mitigate the impact of the annual flooding and to protect vulnerable communities along the River Benue and Niger basins.
“Unless swift actions are taken to engage relevant stakeholders, both within and outside Nigeria, to mitigate these annual disasters and to provide lasting solutions for affected communities, the situation will persist annually with each year worse than the former, thus diminishing the confidence of the people in the leaders.
Adopting the motion, the House mandated the Nigerian/Cameroon Friendship Group to investigate the Nigerian/Cameroonian arrangement/agreement on the Lagdo Dam and mitigation measures therein and advise the House within two weeks for further legislative action.
It urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), in collaboration with State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs), to henceforth enhance early warning systems and improve evacuation and relief efforts for communities in flood-prone areas prior to the event.
