The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has said that Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, and Anambra states are likely to be flooded following the release of water from Lagdo Dam in Cameroon.
Mustapha Ahmed, Director-General, NEMA, who disclosed this at the National Emergency Coordination Forum meeting on Wednesday in Abuja, said other states likely to be affected include Enugu, Edo, Delta, Rivers, and Bayelsa.
He said that states located downstream must begin to make concerted efforts to address and mitigate the impact of the impending flooding.
Ahmed asserted that the notification of the modulated release of water from Cameroon’s Lagdo Dam that was received from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was what prompted the meeting.
He said that the country had commenced the release of water from the dam at a rate of 200 cubic metres per second, which is about 18 million cubic metres of water per day.
The release, he stated, may result in all frontline states experiencing flooding in subsequent days and weeks.
“The states downstream of the River Benue are Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Anambra, Enugu, Edo, Delta, Rivers, and Bayelsa states. The information available from the flow level of the River Benue at the Nigerian Hydrological Service Agency (NIHSA) gauging station at Makurdi stood at 8.97 metres as of Aug. 25, 2023, compared to 8.80 metres on the same date in 2022.
“Also, NIHSA has provided that the flow level of the River Niger system, especially at Niamey, Niger Republic, remains stable at a normal level of 4.30 metres. Similarly, inland dams including Kainji, Jebba, and Shiroro reported consistent flow regimes,” he said.
The director-general added that the immediate evacuation of Nigerians from various communities to safer destinations should be carried out by all stakeholders to mitigate a possible flood disaster this year.
He, however, called on Nigerians to remain calm as the agency would continue to work with other government partners to provide succour, including food and non-food items, to affected people in IDP camps and host communities.