The Federal Government on Tuesday announced that it will commence the gradual release of water from the Lagdo Dam of Cameroon.
The announcement was made on behalf of the FG by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA).
According to the agency, the water would be released from the dam into Nigeria gradually to avoid flooding.
Umar Mohammed, the Director General of NIHSA said the water will be released within the next seven days and that the first phase of the release process is set at 100 cubic meters per second (approximately 8.64 million cubic meters per day).
This process, Mohammed said will start from September 16, with a potential increase to 1,000 cubic meters per second.
He noted that the final rate will depend on inflows from the upstream Garoua River, the primary source of the reservoir, which also feeds into the Benue River, a key waterway in Nigeria.
“The release will be regulated to ensure that water levels do not exceed the capacity of the Benue River system, preventing major flooding in downstream areas of Nigeria,” Mohammed said.
Further noting that there is no immediate cause for alarm, the NIHSA boss said water levels along the Benue River remain within safe limits.
He also noted that there would be a heightened vigilance from states bordering the Benue River, including Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Edo, Delta, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River and Rivers to avoid unnecessary damage.
