FG to construct buffer dams to tackle flooding following Lagdo dam warning

The federal government has announced plans to build five buffer dams to mitigate persistent flooding caused by water releases from Cameroon’s Lagdo Dam.

This information was shared by Umar Mohammed, Director-General of the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), during an appearance on Channels Television’s *The Morning Brief* on Thursday.

Residents in flood-prone areas have been urged to relocate to safer locations in anticipation of flooding due to the Lagdo Dam’s water release. States identified as particularly at risk include Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Edo, Delta, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross Rivers, and Rivers.

Femi Bejide, the agency’s Director of Operations and Hydrology, represented Mohammed, stating that a report has been submitted to the Presidency to address the flooding issue, noting the need to de-silt some existing dams.

“There’s a report submitted to the Presidency, and five buffer dams have been proposed, which the Federal Government is already considering. In the meantime, some of our dams need de-silting, and the tributaries of the Niger and Benue Rivers must be expanded,” he said.

He added that there are minor design issues being amended and expressed confidence that solutions would be implemented within the next two to three years.

This update follows a government alert regarding water releases from the Lagdo Dam, effective September 17, 2024.

In a statement signed by Mohammed, NIHSA informed the public that the dam authorities in Cameroon will initiate controlled water releases at a rate of 100 m³/s (8,640,000 m³/day) starting on that date.

The discharge is expected to gradually increase to 1,000 m³/s over the next week, depending on inflows from the Garoua River, a major tributary of the Benue River.

However, the dam operators assured that the planned releases would be gradual to prevent overwhelming the Benue River system and causing significant flooding downstream in Nigeria.

The overflow from the Lagdo Dam is expected to stop once there is a marked reduction in inflow into the reservoir, according to the statement.