EDO, ANAMBRA, DELTA, RIVERS, BAYELSA WARNED BY AGENCY ON FLOOD ALERT

The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency has alerted state government of possible flooding in Edo, Delta, Anambra, Rivers and Bayelsa States as a result of current flooding in Adamawa because of the release of water from the Lagdo dam in Cameroon.

Director General of the agency, Engr. Clement Oyeaso Eze told newsmen in Abuja on Monday that states along the bank of the River Niger should begin to identify higher ground to relocate villages along the river, adding that the current flood in Adamawa, Taraba and Benue will still find its way into the villages before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean.

He said the Cameroonian authorities only confirmed the release of water from the dam on the 1st of November, 2019 after series of enquiries by the agency.


According to him, “Nigeria signed an MOU with the Cameroonian government to inform us in advance when they want to open their dam so that we can prepare and evacuate our people. Unfortunately, they did not inform us and we noticed the unusual water level, we started asking questions and sending them videos. That is when they confirmed to us that they opened the Lagdo Dam on the 10th of October and closed it on the 31st of October.

That is what is responsible for the flooding in Adamawa, Taraba and Benue and this water is finding its way to Lokoja. This will be joined by the water released from Jebba and Kainji Sam’s and this must empty into the downstream states before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean.

“So, we are warning the states downstream Kogi such as Edo, Anambra, Delta, Rivers and Bayelsa to be prepared. So, this is a flood alert.”