The Federal Authorities on Tuesday alerted Nigerians to the water launch from Lagdo Dam in Cameroon.
The FG made this identified in a press assertion signed by the Director Common/Chief Govt Officer of the Nigeria Hydrological Providers Company, Umar Muhammed.
The assertion famous that the authorities of the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon will provoke managed water releases ranging from Tuesday, September 17, 2024.
It mentioned the water discharge is anticipated to progressively escalate to 1000m³/s over the subsequent seven days based mostly on the influx from the upstream Garoua River.
“The Nigeria Hydrological Providers Company needs to inform most people that the authorities of the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon have communicated to the company that they are going to provoke managed water releases at a fee of 100m³/s (8,640,000m³/day) beginning right now, 17 September 2023.
“The water discharge is anticipated to progressively escalate to 1000m³/s over the subsequent seven days based mostly on the influx from the upstream Garoua River, which serves as the first supply into the reservoir and a big tributary to the Benue River.
“Nonetheless, the dam operators have indicated that the deliberate water discharges might be gradual to keep away from surpassing the conveyance capability of the Benue river system and triggering substantial flooding downstream in Nigeria. The overflow from the Lagdo Dam is projected to stop as soon as there’s a noticeable discount within the movement into the Lagdo reservoir,” the assertion learn partially.
The company, nonetheless, mentioned there was no trigger for alarm.
“The company unequivocally states that there is no such thing as a want for alarm as main flooding downstream in Nigeria isn’t anticipated because the movement ranges alongside the Benue River are nonetheless inside cautionary limits.
“However, it’s of utmost significance for all states bordering the Benue River system, particularly: Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Edo, Delta, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross Rivers, and Rivers, together with the federal government in any respect ranges (federal, state, and LGAs) to intensify their vigilance and implement applicable preparedness measures to mitigate potential flooding impacts which will come up attributable to a rise in movement ranges of our main rivers throughout this era.
“The company will proceed to diligently monitor the movement circumstances of the transboundary Benue River and the nationwide inland rivers, and constantly present common updates on water ranges throughout main rivers to forestall additional flood disasters,” it added.
The dam is positioned within the Northern Province of Cameroon, on the Benue River, within the Niger basin. The lake covers an space of 586
The discharge of water from Lagdo Dam has lengthy been a trigger for concern for a lot of in Nigeria because it impacts many states as a result of it serves because the entry level of River Benue.
Final week, there was a devastating flood in Borno State which killed over 30 individuals and affected over one million residents within the state.