Up to 100,000 displaced and 300 dead as River Benue overflows its banks leading to widespread flooding

ABOUT 100,000 people have been displaced across Nigeria's Middle Belt  over the last few months with up to 300 reported dead as a result of flooding brought about by Cameroon opening its Lagdo Dam and releasing tonnes of water.

River Benue flows into Nigeria from Cameroon and the Cameroonian authorities have built the Lagdo Reservoir 50 km south of the city of Garoua to help regulate the flow of water. Whenever the water in the artificial lake rises dangerously, however, the Cameroonians open the dam but because the Nigerian authorities have no flood control plans, this always leads to problems.

With the recent heavy rainfall witnessed in Nigeria, coupled with the opening of the dam, over 100,000 Nigerians have been displaced and at least 300 killed in the past few months. Data just released by the National Emergency Management Agency (Nema) and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (Nihsa) , showed that the situation is dire.

Nema managing director Mustapha Ahmed, said: “Based on our communication with Nihsa, the Lagdo Dam operators in the Republic of Cameroon, had commenced the release of excess water from the reservoir on September 13, 2022. We are aware that the released water cascades down into Nigeria, through River Benue and its tributaries, thereby overwhelming communities that have already been impacted by heavy rainfall.

“The released water complicates the situation further downstream, as Nigeria’s inland reservoirs including Kainji, Jebba and Shiroro, are also expected to overflow between now and October ending. According to Nihsa, Kainji and Jebba dams have already started spilling excess water from their reservoirs. This will have serious consequences on frontline states and communities along the courses of rivers Niger and Benue.”

He added that the states that are most likely to be affected include Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Niger, Nasarawa, Kebbi and Kogi. Mr Ahmed also stated that  He also said that some Niger-Delta states including Edo, Delta, Anambra, Cross-River, Rivers and Bayelsa were expected to record heavy floods due to the above normal rains.