Cameroon’s Lagdo Dam opening and Nigeria’s last-minute approach to flooding
The planned opening of Lagdo Dam by the Cameron’s government has a devastating flood effect various Communities in Communities in Nigeria as a result of unkept or nonchalant attitude by citizens and government in taking precautions measures.
In 2012, the release of water from the dam by Cameroonian Authorities had a devastating effect on Africa’s largest democracy- millions of people were affected by the flood that was exacerbated by the release of water, causing widespread damage to infrastructure, agriculture, and livelihoods.
The dam linking the Benue River forms a natural border between the two countries and is a crucial source of hydroelectric power and water storage for Cameroon.
The Benue River flows into Nigeria, and any sudden increase in water volume could lead to devastating floods that inundate communities and displace populations. So, whenever the dam releases water, it causes flooding in low-lying areas and impacts Nigeria’s logistics and food security.
Last year, the worst also happened when the gates holding back water at the dam were opened. About 33 of Nigeria’s 36 States and the FCT was flooded. Farmlands across the country were submerged, and roads were cut off at some point, limiting fuel access in some states.
After the water receded, the government said more than 600 people had died, and some 1.3 million people had been displaced, with more than 200,000 homes destroyed.
As the dams open, one of Nigeria’s fears is the impact the potential flooding would have on the economy, especially as it affects agriculture.
Nigeria’s agricultural sector is vital to its economy, employing 70 per cent of Nigeria’s population and contributing 23 per cent to Nigeria’s GDP. The potential flooding resulting from the release of water from the Lagdo Dam could wreak havoc on farmlands and croplands. Crops could be destroyed, leading to food shortages and economic losses. Moreover, the fertile soils essential for agricultural productivity could be eroded due to flooding, posing long-term challenges for the agricultural sector’s recovery.
Also, as the removal of fuel subsidies bites harder, the flooding would cause a logistical disaster, especially for transporters of fuel and food products across northern and southern Nigeria. Like last time, flooding in Benue and Kogi can cut fuel access to the FCT, affecting fuel prices in the nation’s capital.
Though, NEMA has received the letter and taken steps as it is now responsible for ensuring that communities that will most likely be affected by the floods occasioned by the release of the water anticipated and prepare for the floods. This could involve real-time monitoring of water levels and weather patterns to provide timely alerts for intervention.
The agency identified Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Anambra, Enugu, Edo, Delta, Rivers and Bayelsa States likely to be affected by the release of water, there is a need for the agency and the various states governments to work on investing in resilient infrastructure, such as flood barriers and levees.
The government should work on the quick construction of reservoirs or diversion channels to manage excess water flow. These infrastructures can protect communities and farmlands from the adverse effects of flooding. There is a need to go a step further. Nigeria needs to build a bumper dam to mitigate the effects of the Lagdo Dam among other neighbouring countries.
Unfortunately, this is no time for speaking English on social media or arguing but the government should put all the necessary activities in place to safegaurd the various Communities from flood dangers. The Director General of the agency, Clement Nze, though stated that the recent floods in Nigeria are not due to the opening of the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon, identifying that the development is due to flash floods, poorly constructed or lack of proper flood channels, and inadequate drainage systems across the country.
The advocating for the construction of earth dams on the tributaries of the Niger and Benue rivers and speedy action on the construction of the Kashimbila Dam in Adamawa State as proposed by the HIHSA boss should have been discussed and implemented long before this critical time of shifting blames.
There should be Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Nigeria and Cameron as an update beyond the 2016 agreement requiring the Cameroonian authorities not to inform Nigeria before releasing water from the dam.
However, it’s very clear government is putting measures to curb any unwholesome circumstances but last-minute culture by the federal government must be stopped for the purpose of safety of lives and properties with regards to floods.
Eventually, the Minister of State, Environment and Ecological Management, Isiaq Salako said it is better for the dam to be released by officials in charge than for it to overflow on its own as that will cause monumental damage.
The Cameroonian government had already written a letter to the Nigerian government on plans to “open the flood gates of the Lagdo Dam on the Benue River in days ahead.”
The letter stated that the opening of the dam is due to the heavy rainfall “around the dam catchment area in Northern Cameroon.”
Salako who spoke while featuring as a guest on Channels Television programme ‘Sunrise Daily’ which was monitored by QUEST TIMES however said there have been warnings to those living on the bank of the River Benue who will be affected by the flooding to relocate. He also added that the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other agencies are working round the clock to ensure that the impact of the flooding is minimised.
“The Ministry is aware and I’m sure most Nigerians are aware that Cameroon wants to open that dam. But thankfully, it is not a sudden opening. The management of the opening of that dam is going to cause less burden. That is what we envisage. We don’t envisage seeing what we witnessed in 2022.
“However, there has been a lot of warnings and alerts to the people living on the bank of River Benue to relocate to higher grounds.
“So, we expect that some flooding will occur as a result of the opening of that dam and it is inevitable. This is because if the dam overflows on its own, the disaster it will cause will be worse. So, it is better to have a managed release of the water in the dam to ensure that the damage is not severe.”
On the long-term solution to the flooding, the Minister said the Federal government will expedite action on plans to build a shock-absorber dam to be located in Adamawa State, named Dasin Hausa Dam.
The release of massive volumes of water from Lagdo Dam in Cameroon since August 14, 2023, which triggered fear of widespread flooding in 11 states in Nigeria, has been stopped by managers of the dam, the Federal Government announced on Tuesday. The focus on the August 2023 water releases from Lagdo Dam, as the government revealed that the spilling of water from the facility was stopped by 11 a.m. on Monday, August 28, 2023.
He said the River Niger Basin covered nine countries in West and Central Africa including Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Cote D’Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Niger and Nigeria.
Under the umbrella body of the Niger Basin Authority based in Niamey, Niger Republic, Nigeria is downstream of all the countries in this basin. The months of July, August September and October of every year signify periods of heavy rainfall, flooding and flood disasters in most parts of the country. The Lagdo Dam is located on the Benue River In the Niger Basin. The Cameroonian authorities commenced the release of water from Lagdo Dam by 10.10 a.m. on August 14, 2023. This was communicated to the DG of NIHSA on August 23, 2023, by the Cameroonian hydrologist in charge of the dam.
Nze emphasised that the release of water from the dam commenced at the rate of 200 cubic metres per second, which was about 18 million cubic metres of water per day. According to the (Cameroonian) official, this exercise will continue for the next seven days seeing that the reservoir level currently stands a 213.46m and the maximum permissible level of the reservoir is 214.02m.
The Federal government in collaboration with states and stakeholders should be proactive to work out a policy that will ensure effective channelisation of all the massive flooding locations in the country.
