The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced plans to build five buffer dams to reduce the constant flooding caused by the release of water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon.
This was revealed by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief program.
The Director-General of NIHSA, Umar Mohammed, shared the information, emphasizing the need for immediate action. He was represented on the program by Femi Bejide, the Agency’s Director of Operations and Hydrology.
According to Bejide, a report has already been submitted to the Presidency, proposing the construction of the buffer dams.
“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,” Bejide said.
In addition to the proposed buffer dams, the government also plans to de-silt existing dams and expand the tributaries of the River Niger and River Benue to manage flooding.
“But in the interim, some of our dams have to be de-silted, the tributaries of River Niger and Benue have to be expanded,” Bejide added.
The government hopes that in the next two to three years, these projects will be completed. He mentioned that some design issues are currently being addressed.
The NIHSA also issued a warning to residents living in flood-prone areas to move to safer locations. The flood-prone states include Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Edo, Delta, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross Rivers, and Rivers.
This announcement follows devastating flooding caused by water from the Alau Dam, which recently killed over 30 people and destroyed thousands of homes in Maiduguri, Borno State.
