Lagdom Dam: Nigeria prepares for impending water catastrophe

The National Emergency Management Agency, or NEMA, warned Nigerians a few days ago that flooding along the River Benue Basin was imminent.

The advisory states that “opening the flood gates of the Lagdo Dam on the Benue River” is what the Cameroonian government intends to do.

Recall that a Memorandum of Understanding, or MoU, governing the flow of water from the dam and stipulating that Cameroon always notify Nigeria prior to opening the dam’s gates, was signed between Nigeria and Cameroon in 2016.

The Cameroonian government informed Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a letter of its intention to release water from the Lagdo dam and requested that the organisation take safety precautions.

Following the notification, DAILY POST discovered that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also reacted and gave NEMA a notice.

Over the years, the Lagdo Dam’s water output has been blamed for significant flooding in numerous regions across the nation.

According to OBASANJO NEWS24, the dam on the River Benue in the Republic of Cameroon has a history of flooding several states in Nigeria along its navigation routes excessively. Benue, Adamawa, Taraba, Nasarawa, Kogi, Anambra, Enugu, Edo, Delta, Rivers, and Bayelsa are some of these states.

However, in 2019, the dam was unexpectedly opened, which led to flooding in the Niger Delta, Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, and Kogi areas in October and November of that year. Devastation caused by floods in 2022 resulted in the loss of lives and billions of naira’s worth of property.

NEMA recently revealed in its report that the 2022 flood tragedy resulted in 665 fatalities, 2,437,411 displaced people, and 4,476,867 people were affected.

Additionally, the government stated, “As of August 9, data compiled regarding flooding in 2023 so far showed that 10 States had been affected, while 33,983 and 7,353 individuals were affected and relocated, respectively.

The analysis also revealed that there were 1,679 destroyed homes and 866 hectares of damaged agriculture, along with 75 injuries and five fatalities.

NEMA responded to the news by stating that the warning was not new and that it has previously alerted state governors to oncoming floods, including those from the Lagdo Dam.

According to the agency’s spokesperson, Manzo Ezekiel, it is now up to the governors of the impacted states to work with NEMA to secure people’s lives and property.

Ezekiel asked Nigerians not to be afraid of the Lagdo Dam opening and gave them the assurance that NEMA was working with important stakeholders, such as the federal, state, and local governments, to make sure that the release did not have any bad effects.

When compared to 8.80 metres on the same date in 2022, the flow level of the River Benue at the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) gauging station in Makurdi was 8.97 metres as of August 25.

However, NIHSA has also stipulated that the flow level of the River Niger system, specifically at Niamey, Niger Republic, remains constant at a normal level of 4.30 metres.

“In a similar vein, inland dams like Kainji, Jebba, and Shiroro recorded regular flow regimes.

The Niger and Benue rivers’ confluence in Lokoja, Kogi, is currently within normal bounds, according to the hydrological station downriver, he said.

But the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority, or LASEMA, has reiterated that the state government is ready to handle any potential emergency brought on by the approaching flood.

Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, the permanent secretary of LASEMA, revealed that the state government had given LASEMA 144 units of facilities with a capacity to house 5,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) in the case of an emergency.

Because LASEMA has transitioned from management to comprehensive emergency management, he remarked that Lagos was well-prepared.

“To identify the most vulnerable persons in an emergency, we have conducted risk analysis, resource mappings, and launched directories in each council. All of these steps are intended to guarantee prompt, efficient, and quick responses, he stated.

The Delta State government has also stated that it is ready in a similar vein.

It claimed to be taking preemptive measures to lessen the impact of floods in the state and declared that in the case of serious flooding, IDP camps would be quickly established.

An official from the administration stated, “We are already opening drainages and demolishing illegal structures blocking the waterways.”

In order to prevent floods brought on by the inauguration of the Lagdo Dam, Tasiu Gidari-Wudil, president of the Nigeria Society of Engineers, has suggested that the government build flood control dams along the Rivers Niger and Benue.

Gidari-Wudil demanded that key rivers be dredged to lessen siltation and sedimentation during a press conference on Monday in Abuja.

He bemoaned the government’s failure to execute the panels’ recommendations after the 2012 and 2022 flood disasters.

To lessen the effects of the flood from the Lagdo Dam, the President Bola Tinubu-established Presidential Committee said it will undertake several measures and rescue operations.

Dr. Betta Edu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, asked the Governors’ Forum to take action more quickly by guaranteeing the prompt evacuation of Nigerians from flood-prone villages to safer locations during a briefing in Abuja at the committee’s request.

She said that the President had ordered a meeting of all pertinent ministries to address the flooding problem.

Environmental cleanup specialist Dr. Moses Paul said in an interview with OBASANJO NEWS24 that in order to minimise potential flood damage, key stakeholders should prioritise the safety and well-being of the impacted population.

Paul, who is also the convener of the Free Nigeria Movement/YELL OUT Nigeria, thinks that in order to successfully handle the situation and stop future harm, the president and state governors should work with the pertinent parties.

He noted that in order to provide timely warnings to vulnerable communities, the government should also enhance flood early warning systems. He said that this might be done by installing weather monitoring stations, flood forecasting models, and communication networks.

The environmental expert also asked the necessary parties to make sure that flood victims would have access to psychosocial support services, such as mental health care and counselling services.

“The focus on providing a prompt and efficient response, particularly anything that will bring to safety the life and property first and foremost of her citizens, is the number one objective of government and leadership wherever in the world.

The establishment of efficient communication channels, such as mobile alerts or community networks, to disseminate early warning messages and information to at-risk communities would therefore be among the major concerns and advice for the Nigerian President and state governors in such a scenario as we currently face. This would help to ensure prompt preparation and evacuation.

“It is essential to guarantee the swift and secure evacuation of residents in the impacted areas. Among other things, this entails planning and organising relief initiatives to give flood victims food, clean water, medical care, and other necessities.

“Planning for restoration and reconstruction should be done in the long term to help affected communities recover.

“It’s also crucial to make sure that those impacted by the flood have access to psychosocial support services, as many people may feel trauma, loss, or displacement. Services for mental health counselling and support should be made available to assist people in coping with the emotional and psychological effects.

Effective disaster response requires coordination between a variety of parties, including NGOs, local communities, and government organisations. The ability to respond will be improved overall through coordinated efforts and resource sharing.

“It is equally crucial that the president of Nigeria and the governors of the states, especially those that border the River Benue, put the safety and welfare of the affected population first, collaborate with the pertinent parties, and allocate resources wisely to manage the crisis and stop further harm by incorporating climate change projections into long-term flood management strategies for riverine areas in the nation.

If the government also takes the following actions, they can be accomplished:

The possible effects of climate change and the susceptibility of riverine areas to flooding should be evaluated by the government. Considerations for this assessment should include socioeconomic conditions, land use patterns, and population density.

“The government should include climate change estimates of increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events in its evaluations of flood risk. Understanding future flood threats in riverine areas would be aided by this.

Additionally, it is smart for the government to impose rigorous guidelines on land-use planning in flood-prone areas. This may entail prohibiting construction in high-risk areas and supporting sustainable land-use techniques that lessen communities’ exposure to and susceptibility to flooding.

“Putting a high priority on building climate-resilient infrastructure in riverine areas is another issue. In addition to implementing natural solutions like restoring wetlands and creating floodplains, this might also involve building roads, bridges, and buildings that are flood-resistant.

In addition to the aforementioned, the government ought to work with regional communities to spread knowledge of the effects of climate change and the dangers of flooding. In order to inform communities on flood preparedness, early warning systems, and evacuation strategies, this can include organising seminars, training programmes, and public campaigns.

“In conclusion, the Nigerian government should work with international partners and organisations to gain access to technical know-how, finance, and forums for knowledge-sharing. Based on climate change estimates, this collaboration can aid in the development and implementation of efficient flood management methods.

The Nigerian government may increase the resilience of riverine areas and lessen the effects that future floods will have on residents and infrastructure by incorporating climate change projections into long-term flood management programmes, the author claimed.