The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) has warned that 11 states in Nigeria are at risk of severe flooding due to the release of water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon
The states at risk include Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Edo, Delta, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross-Rivers, and Rivers The agency has advised governments at all levels to step up vigilance and deploy adequate preparedness measures to reduce possible impacts of flooding
The release of water from the Lagdo Dam is expected to escalate to 1000m³/s over the next week, depending on the inflow from the upstream Garoua River
This has led to a panic mode in the affected states, with governments hurrying to relocate people and provide internally displaced persons (IDPs) and camps
The NIHSA director-general has emphasized the need for people to relocate from flood plains, as the water discharge is anticipated to progressively escalate over the next seven days
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has also confirmed that the release of excess water from the Lagdo Dam is ongoing and swelling the water level of River Benue
This situation is particularly dire in Borno State, where recent insecurity has significantly impacted food production ¹. The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has reported that only 5.9 percent of Borno's food needs are met through local production, with the remaining 94 percent imported The flooding situation in Nigeria is further complicated by the fact that the country is already grappling with elevated food and energy prices
The long-term implications of these floods pose a significant challenge to Nigeria's food security, which is already under strain due to violence, insecurity, and issues related to storage and foreign exchange
To mitigate this, the NIHSA has advised that flood risk management must become a national priority, focusing on prevention rather than reaction This includes developing reliable early warning systems, implementing robust urban planning regulations, and ensuring flood-prone areas are adequately equipped to handle excess water
