Flooding Warning Issued in Nigeria as Cameroon Releases Water from Dam
Overview
Nigeria’s hydrological services agency has issued a warning of potential flooding in 11 states following heavy rainfall in West and Central Africa.
Background
The warning comes as Nigeria is already grappling with severe floods in northeastern Borno state, where a dam burst its walls after heavy rains. The floods have also affected Cameroon, Chad, Mali, and Niger, all part of Africa’s Sahel region that usually receives little rain.
Warning Issued
The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) said it had been notified by authorities in Cameroon that they had started controlled water releases from Lagdo dam on Tuesday. Cameroon has several dams on the Benue River, which flows downstream to Nigeria.
Risks and Precautions
According to NIHSA, 11 states, including Benue, Nasarawa, and Kogi in the food-producing central belt region and southern oil-producing states of Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers, are at risk. The agency urged federal and state authorities in Nigeria to step up vigilance and deploy adequate preparedness measures to reduce possible impacts of flooding.
Previous Flooding Incident
In 2022, Nigeria lost more than 600 people and farmlands to the worst flooding in a decade following heavy rain and after Cameroon released water from Lagdo dam. Experts said then that Nigeria’s failure to complete a dam of its own that was supposed to backstop the Cameroonian one worsened the disaster.
Conclusion
The potential flooding in Nigeria highlights the need for effective disaster management and infrastructure development in the country. Nigeria’s failure to complete a dam to backstop the Cameroonian one has worsened the situation, and the government must take steps to mitigate the effects of flooding in the future.
FAQs
Q: Why has Cameroon released water from its dam?
A: Cameroon has released water from its dam in response to heavy rainfall in West and Central Africa.
Q: Which states in Nigeria are at risk of flooding?
A: Eleven states, including Benue, Nasarawa, and Kogi in the food-producing central belt region and southern oil-producing states of Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers, are at risk.
Q: What measures can be taken to prevent flooding?
A: The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency has urged federal and state authorities to step up vigilance and deploy adequate preparedness measures to reduce possible impacts of flooding.