HOMES, FARMS FLOODED AS CAMEROON OPENS DAM AMID TORRENTIAL RAINFALL

Hundreds of citizens have lamented over the recent flooding that has affected states like Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Niger, Nasarawa, Kebbi, and Kogi states.

Reports have it that the Lagdo Dam, in the Republic of Cameroon, has opened up the dam for the release of excess water.

That coupled With the recent rainfall witnessed in Nigeria, has left no fewer than 300 Nigerians killed, while an estimated 500,000 others have been altered by flooding. Data released in Abuja, on Monday, by the National Emergency Management Agency and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, at an emergency technical meeting on flood situations across the country disclosed this.

“Based on our communication with NIHSA, the Lagdo Dam operators in the Republic of Cameroon had commenced the release of excess water from the reservoir on September 13, 2022,” the Director-General, NEMA, Mustapha Ahmed, stated while speaking at the meeting.

He added, “We are aware that the released water cascades down into Nigeria, through River Benue and its tributaries, thereby overwhelming communities that have already been impacted by heavy rainfall.

“The released water complicates the situation further downstream, as Nigeria’s inland reservoirs, including Kanji, Jebba, and Shiroro, are also expected to overflow between now and October ending.

“According to NIHSA, Kanji and Jebba dams have already started spilling excess water from their reservoirs. This will have serious consequences on frontline states and communities along the courses of rivers Niger and Benue.”

A Thousand farmlands and houses have been destroyed as some residents have been forced to flee their homes to safer territories.