Lagdo Dam : NIHSA Allays Fear Of Flooding

The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, NIHSA, has called on Nigerians not to panic over the opening of the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon.

The Director General of NIHSA, Clement Nze made the call at a news conference in Abuja.

According to Nze, opening of the Lagdo dam was a normal exercise and far negligible to cause any flooding downstream.

“The Cameroonian authorities commenced release of water from Lagdo Dam by 10.10am on 14th of August 2023. The release of water from the Dam commenced at the rate of 200 cubic metres per second (200m3/s) which is about 18 million cubicmetres of water per day 18Mm3/day. He added.

He said the Lagdo dam has been closed since the 28th of August stressing that the situation is being monitored though rainfall is unpredictable.

“By 25th August 2023, the water releases from the servoir reduced to 50 cubic metres per second (50㎡3/s) which is normal reservoir operations and far negligible to cause any flooding downstream.

“At about 5.16pm 28th Aug.,2023, the Hydrologist in-charge of the Dam notified us that they stopped spilling water by 11.00am same day.” the Director-General stated.

Nze further explained that the flood being experienced in Abuja and other parts of the country was caused by local rainfall.

He added that the current water level at the monitoring station in Makurdi, Benue State is 9.01m as against 9.68m recorded on the same date in 2022.

Georgina Humphrey, Edited By Grace Namiji