September 19, (THEWILL) – The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) has warned Nigerians residing in floodplain areas to relocate immediately to safe spaces, in anticipation of attendant floods that annually come with the release of water from the Lagdo Dam.
The release of water from the Lagdo Dam comes days after water from overflowing Alau Dam killed over 30 persons and swept away thousands of homes in Maiduguri, Borno State.
On Tuesday, the Federal Government alerted Nigerians to plans by the Cameroonian authorities to release water from the Lagdo Dam.
Speaking on Thursday, when he was featured on Channels TV, the NIHSA Director General, Umar Mohammed, said Lagdo Dam in the neighbouring francophone country, Cameroon, has been released into River Niger and River Benue.
Represented on the programme by Femi Bejide, the Agency’s Director of Operations and Hydrology, Mohammed said his Agency met with the authorities in Cameroon and agreed that water from the Lagdo Dam be released “intermittently” for the River Benue and River Niger in Nigeria to be able to contain the volume of water to avoid flooding in 11 states at risk.
“The situation is that water from Cameroon’s Lagdo Dam has been released already since yesterday (Wednesday) and there is an agreement that the water should be released in phases”, he said.
NIHSA listed flood-prone states to include Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Edo, Delta, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross Rivers and Rivers.
“For now, there is calm and normalcy and the water is being regularised from the Lagdo dam, though the currents are rising”, he said, adding that all Nigerians have a role to play in preventing flooding.
“Everybody has their part to play; as the Federal Government is doing its part, our agency is doing its part, NEMA is prepared, individuals should also have to do their part. They have to move from the floodplain. Houses also, their drainages, they have to clean and clear their drainages.
“Water will find its way so the waterways should be cleared and the drainages should be cleared to allow water to move. That is the responsibility of everybody.
“Look at your house, if your house is in the floodplain, please move please move from the floodplain, it is an appeal”, the NIHSA boss stated.
