Lagdo Dam: Cameroonian Government Informs FG of Opening

The Government of Cameroon has informed the federal government of Nigeria of its intention to open the Lagdo Dam on River Benue.

The notification was sent to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) through a letter signed by Umar Salisu, the Ministry’s Director of African Affairs in Cameroon.

According to the Cameroonian government, the decision to open the Lagdo Dam was to reduce the level of water caused by the persistent rain in Cameroon.

The Ministry urged NEMA to immediately take precautionary measures and sensitise people of the affected areas, in order to reduce damage.

According to Salisu, the Cameroonian authorities will be releasing “only modulated variable small amount of water at a time in order to mitigate and avoid damages that the released water may cause along the River Benue basin both Cameroon and in Nigeria.”

The effect of the release of water from this dam is largely felt on surrounding regions in about 13 states in Nigeria, including Kogi, Benue, Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe

Others include Niger, Nasarawa, Kebbi, Kogi, Edo, Delta, Anambra, Cross River, Rivers, and Bayelsa States.