Nigeria’s hydrological services agency has issued a flood warning for 11 states following Cameroon’s decision to release water from one of its largest dams. This comes as Nigeria is already battling severe floods in northeastern Borno state and other parts of West and Central Africa.
The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) received notification from Cameroonian authorities on Tuesday about the controlled water release from Lagdo dam. The dam is located on the Benue River, which flows downstream into Nigeria. While there is a possibility of flooding at the dam, Cameroon’s utility ENEO confirmed that the reservoirs had not been opened as of Wednesday morning.
NIHSA emphasized that Lagdo dam managers would gradually release water to prevent flooding in Nigeria. However, 11 states, including Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers, are at risk. The agency urged federal and state authorities to increase vigilance and implement preparedness measures to mitigate potential flood impacts.
Nigeria experienced devastating floods in 2022, resulting in the loss of over 600 lives and significant damage to farmlands. Experts attribute the severity of the floods to the failure to complete a dam in Nigeria that was intended to act as a buffer to the Cameroonian dam.
Nigeria’s vulnerability to flooding is exacerbated by defective infrastructure and poor planning. As the most populous nation in Africa, the country faces significant challenges in managing natural disasters.