The National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, has allayed fears that the country might experience serious flooding following a Cameroonian government letter addressed to the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, informing the ministry to take precautionary measures as they intend to release water from the Lagdo dam.
NEMA’s Head of Public Relations, Manzo Ezekiel, told newsmen on Sunday, 26th August, 2023, that the agency is collaborating with key stakeholders at the Federal, States and Local Governments to ensure that the release will not have a significant negative impact on the low-lying communities along the States that would be affected.
We are fully aware of the opening of the dam and we have begun taking precautionary measures by sensitizing the communities around the River Benue,” he said.
Manzo Ezekiel, NEMA’s Head of Public Relations
However, they have not opened the dam. It is a routine thing because if it exceeds the limit, it can lead to the breaking of the dam and that would be more disastrous.
NEMA urged residents of the flood prone areas to remain calm and to follow the instructions of the authorities.
The letter from the Cameroonian government signed by Umar Salisu, the Ministry’s Director of African Affairs, said the Cameroonian government plans to “open the flood gates of the Lagdo Dam on the Benue River in days ahead”.
According to Salisu, the Cameroonian authorities will be releasing “only modulated variable small amount of water at a time” to mitigate and avoid damages that the released water may cause along the River Benue basin in both Cameroon and Nigeria.
The Cameroonian ministry, therefore, urged NEMA to take precautionary measures to reduce damages.
Story: Christy Dung