- Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) has disclosed plans to establish five buffer dams to address flooding from the Lagdo Dam
- Nigerians in flood-prone areas are advised to relocate to safer locations
- Flood-prone states identified include Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Edo, others
To combat persistent flooding triggered by the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon, the Federal Government, through the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), plans to establish five buffer dams.
This announcement was made by the NIHSA Director-General Umar Mohammed while at The Morning Brief breakfast show on Channels Television on Thursday, September 19.
Five buffer dams proposed to address flooding
Speaking on the program, Femi Bejide, Director of Operations and Hydrology, conveyed Mohammed's message that a report has been sent to the Presidency, stressing the need to de-silt several dams in Nigeria.
“What has to be done also is that there’s a report that has been submitted to the Presidency. We have to have buffer dams and five have been proposed and the Federal Government is looking at that already.”
“But in the interim, some of our dams have to be de-silted, the tributaries of River Niger and Benue have to be expanded.
Nigerians in flood-prone areas advised to relocate
“I learnt that there is a little issue with the design and they are trying to amend the design. I believe that in the next two to three years that would have been put in place,” he stated.
The Agency has urged Nigerians living in flood-prone areas to relocate immediately to safer locations in preparation for the annual flooding associated with the release of water from the Lagdo Dam.
The flood-prone states listed by NIHSA include Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Edo, Delta, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River, and Rivers.
President Tinubu consoles flood victims, assures them of his support
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that the President, Bola Tinubu consoled the victims of floods in Nigeria as reported by the National Emergency Management Agency.
The president also assured the victims that his administration would provide the necessary support they need.