Quick Facts about Cameroon's Lagdo Dam Causing Floods in Nigeria

Quick Facts About Cameroon’s Lagdo Dam Causing Floods in Nigeria

Millions of Nigerians are homeless, distressed and have lost valuable in this piece, Alao Abiodun writes on quick facts about Cameroon’s Lagdo Dam causing floods in Nigeria.

[dropcap]I[/dropcap]n the past week, the rampant flood situation across the country has ravaged many communities, washed away farms and destroyed people’s properties.

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Sadly, motorists passing through communities have had to make a detour passing through longer routes to get to their destinations.

Many roads have been washed away, many farmlands, houses, vehicles and other properties have succumbed to the overpowering effect of flooding.

Findings show the country is facing its worst flooding in a decade with the National Emergency authorities describing the situation as “beyond control”.

While the devastating flood situation has become a recurring decimal, different narratives have been put forward as the cause.

The flooding has been linked to heavy rainfalls, overflow of local rivers, and the devastating impacts of climate change but most consequentially to the release of excess water from the Lagdo Dam in Northern Cameroon.

NEMA in a terse press statement on September 19 said: “The Lagdo dam operators in the Republic of Cameroon have commenced the release of excess water from the reservoir by September 13, 2022.

“We are aware that the released water cascades down to Nigeria through River Benue and its tributaries thereby inundating communities that have already been impacted by heavy precipitation”

According to findings by our correspondent, the construction of the Lagdo Dam started in 1977 and was completed in 1982.

Records indicate that Cameroon and Nigeria were supposed to build two dams at inception, such that the Nigerian dam, known as Dasin Hausa dam which was to be in Adamawa State, would contain water released from the Lagdo Dam at any point in time.

The Dasin Hausa dam was supposed to be two and a half the size of the Lagdo dam, meant to supply electricity to the northern part of Cameroon and also aid irrigation.

But sadly, the absence of dams to control the excesses from Cameroon’s dam have continued to cause serious consequences on frontline states and communities along the courses of rivers Niger and Benue.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajia Sadiya Farouq said Nigeria will “initiate a bilateral discussion with authorities in Cameroon next month (November 2022) on the periodic opening of the Lagdo Dam”.

Meanwhile, various spirited efforts are being made and put in place to provide succour to the victims of this devastating floods.