Nigeria’s Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) has alerted 11 states about potential flooding risks following the release of water from Cameroon’s Lagdo Dam. Cameroon announced the controlled release after heavy rainfall across West and Central Africa.
The warning comes as northeastern Nigeria faces severe floods after a dam burst in Borno State. Other countries affected by recent heavy rains include Cameroon, Chad, Mali, and Niger, all part of the typically dry Sahel region.
Cameroon’s utility ENEO, which manages the Lagdo Dam, stated that while the dam could flood, its reservoirs had not been opened as of Wednesday morning. NIHSA explained that the dam’s water will be released gradually to prevent overwhelming Nigeria’s Benue River.
The states at risk include Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers. Authorities have been urged to increase preparedness and vigilance to reduce the impact of potential flooding.
Last year, Nigeria experienced its worst flooding in a decade, losing over 600 lives and farmlands after Cameroon released water from the same dam. Experts cite Nigeria’s failure to complete a protective dam as a major factor in the disaster.
