…No cause for alarm, FEMA assures
The agency urged NEMA to take proactive steps and actions that will mitigate the damage and sensitise the populace around the area on vigilance and other necessary precautions.
By Deborah Hassan
365Daily – The Cameroonian government has announced plans to open its Lagdo Dam located in the northern part of the country, sparking fears of flooding in Nigeria.
Water from this dam had in previous years led to flooding crisis in Nigeria, especially the Benue and Kogi States axis. In 2022, in addition to Benue and Kogi, it also wrecked havoc in Bayelsa, Anambra and others.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) recorded over 300 deaths, 500 injuries and 100,000 people were displaced as a result of this flooding last year.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (East of Central Africa Division) in a letter dated August 21, 2023, and addressed to the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), notified the agency of the intention of the government of Cameroun to release water from the dam due to heavy rainfall in the northern region of the country.
It added that it will be released in the Benue River, in “modulated, variable small amount of water at a time in order to mitigate and avoid damages that the water may cause along the River Benue basin in both Nigeria and in Cameroun.”
The agency, therefore, urged NEMA to take proactive steps and actions that will mitigate the damage and sensitise the populace around the area on vigilance and other necessary precautions.
Meanwhile, the Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has assured residents that there is no cause for alarm.
FEMA, in a tweet on its official page, stated: “We discussed the letter at the highest level of stakeholders. There is no cause for alarm as Cameroun is releasing the water in bits.”
The tweet also quoted the Director General of FEMA, Dr. Abbas Idriss, who added that the agency is prepared to handle possible challenges that may arise from water released from the dam.
“FEMA is ready to handle possible challenges. Our Search and Rescue Team and Volunteers are ready,” it added.