The Nigerian government has issued a warning to citizens about the controlled water release from Lagdo Dam in Cameroon, which began on Tuesday, September 17, 2024. The water discharge is expected to increase progressively to 1000m³/s over the next seven days, depending on the inflow from the Garoua River.
According to the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, the dam operators will release water at a rate of 100m³/s (8,640,000m³/day) to avoid surpassing the conveyance capacity of the Benue River system and triggering substantial flooding downstream in Nigeria.
Affected States
The agency has advised the following states bordering the Benue River system to be vigilant and take preparedness measures:
- Adamawa
- Taraba
- Benue
- Nasarawa
- Kogi
- Edo
- Delta
- Anambra
- Bayelsa
- Cross Rivers
- Rivers
No Cause for Alarm
Despite the warning, the agency reassures that major flooding downstream in Nigeria is not anticipated, as flow levels along the Benue River are still within cautionary limits.
The Lagdo Dam, located in Cameroon’s Northern Province, has been a concern for Nigeria due to its impact on River Benue. Recently, devastating floods in Borno State killed over 30 people and affected over a million citizens.
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