ABUJA – The impending release of water from Cameroon’s Lagdo Dam has prompted precautionary actions from several Nigerian states. In a letter to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Cameroonian government expressed its plans to alleviate the dam’s water level due to persistent rain, potentially causing flooding in Nigeria.
States at risk, including Lagos, Benue, and Delta, have begun implementing strategies to minimize potential damage and loss of life, encouraging citizens in flood-prone areas to move to safer locations.
Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA), confirmed Lagos’s readiness to respond effectively, with a comprehensive emergency management plan in place. The state government has provided LASEMA with facilities to accommodate up to 5,000 internally displaced persons if necessary.
Benue State Emergency Management Agency issued a directive for those inhabiting flood plains to move to safer areas, and the agency is amplifying its awareness campaign to prepare residents for possible flooding.
In Delta State, the government assured it is taking active steps to mitigate the flood impact and would not hesitate to establish internally displaced persons (IDP) camps if severe flooding occurs.
Bayelsa State government also called on the Federal Government to assist in tackling the flood menace, emphasizing the need for more than just flood alerts.
In response, NEMA stated that it had informed state governors about the potential floods and called on them to take action to protect lives and properties.
SOURCE: Vanguard
