The federal government has placed numerous states on high alert against possible flooding, with Cameroon starting to release Lagdo Dam water.
The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) issued the alert to states on the bank of River Benue following the release of water, which began yesterday
The states are Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Edo, Delta, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River and Rivers.
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In the past, the release of water from the dam located close to the Nigerian border with Cameroon had led to massive flooding in some states.
However, NIHSA said yesterday that the release of water this time is being controlled to prevent likely flooding.
“Following an official communication from the dam’s management, the water release will gradually increase over the next seven days,” NIHSA’s Director-General Umar Mohammed said in a statement.
He added that the “initial release rate was 100 cubic meters per second (approximately 8.64 million cubic meters per day) starting September 17, 2024 (yesterday), with a potential increase to 1,000 cubic meters per second.’’
Mohammed said the final rate would depend on inflows from the upstream Garoua River, the primary source of the reservoir, which also feeds into the Benue River, a key waterway in Nigeria.
“The release will be regulated to ensure that water levels do not exceed the capacity of the Benue River system, preventing major flooding in downstream areas of Nigeria,” he added.
The NIHSA boss reassured the public that measures are in place to control the flow and reduce flooding risk, with the release stopping once inflows to the Lagdo reservoir are manageable.
He emphasised that there is no immediate cause for alarm, as water levels along the Benue River remained within safe limits.
Unexpected release of water from the dam had in the past years caused heavy flooding in many states in Nigeria, especially those close to the Benue River.
The worst was in 2012, when houses were submerged in Makurdi, Benue State, and parts of Adamawa State.
Ten lives were lost and properties worth millions of dollars were destroyed.
No fewer than 250,000 residents of nine Kogi State communities face displacement by floods in the coming days, the state government raised the alarm yesterday.
Also, Benue State Emergency Management Agency (Benue-SEMA) admonished persons living within a one-kilometer radius of riverbanks to relocate immediately.
Kogi State Commissioner for Environment and Ecological Management, Joseph Oluwasegun, said the government had taken proactive measures to ensure that the impending floods did not lead to disaster.
Oluwasegun spoke at a meeting with stakeholders in Lokoja that 42 internally displaced persons (IDP) camps had been established across eight local government areas of the state, with emphasis on the nine flood-prone communities.
The commissioner, who did not name the nine communities, explained that the meeting was called to fashion out preparations for the 2024 flood prediction by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET).
Oluwasegun called for a unified response to the impending flood threat, highlighting the need for seamless collaboration among stakeholders.
Executive Secretary, Kogi State Emergency Management Agency (KOSEMA), Mouktar Atimah, said an Emergency Operation Center would be established for effective coordination and response to flood situations.
In Makurdi, Executive Secretary of Benue-SEMA, James Iorpuu, said the advisory to people living in flood-prone areas followed ‘’critical weather’’ updates by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA).
The agencies predicted a five-day period of heavy rainfall that would subside Friday.
According to Iorpuu, the areas most at risk are Udoma, Ugbokpo, Ukgbokolo, Ukpiam, Otobi, Otukpo, Mbapa, Makurdi, Gbajimba, Logo, and Abinsi.
He added that camps have already been set up to accommodate those who might be affected.
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has begun the construction of six temporary shelters for those who might be impacted by flooding in Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers states.
Samuel Ogbuku, managing director of the commission, who made this known to reporters in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, yesterday, said that the shelters were conceived as a response to the frequent flood challenges faced by communities in the Niger Delta.
He explained that facilities at each of the shelters would include a school, hospital, cafeteria, police post, and recreation centre.
The NDDC boss said: “We have six of these facilities currently under construction in Otuokpoti and Odi, in Bayelsa State, while the ones in Delta State are being built in Patani and Ozorro and another two in Rivers State.”
Ogbuku added that the commission would intensify its efforts to light up communities across the nine states of the Niger Delta through solar as part of measures to fight criminality and maintain peace in the region.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has donated relief materials to 800 households recently affected by floods and windstorms in Ikara/Kubau Local Government Areas of Kaduna State.
Malam Imam Garki, North-West Zonal Coordinator of NEMA, presented the items to Aliyu Abdullahi, a member representing Ikara/Kubau Constituency in the House of Representatives, for distribution to the affected victims.
Garki said the Federal Government approved the relief items for the affected households.
He said the communities had experienced severe flooding, following heavy rains and windstorms in June, which affected about 4,800 persons, resulting in four fatalities.
Succour has continued to pour in for victims for the victims.
Yesterday, the Northeast Development Commission (NEDC) donated N3 billion to the flood victims.
Also, the Senate donated N54 million, the House of Representatives N100 million; the Northern Caucus of the House, N10 million, and Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, N10 million.
Also, former Anmabra State Governor Peter Obi, his Labour Party (LP) delegation donated N50 million and the Thinklab Charity Foundation, N20 million.
The supports were announced by NEDC, Senate, and House of Representatives delegations during their sympathy visits to Governor Babagana Zulum in Maiduguri.
Obi was also in the ravaged city in company with Datti Baba-Ahmad, LP’s Caretaker Committee Chairman Nenadi Usman, and National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Yunusa Tanko.
NEDC Managing Director Mohammed Alkali, who led management and some board members on the visit to Borno, told Governor Zulum that the N3 billion was meant specifically for operators of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) affected by the floods caused by the collapse of Alau Dam.
Alkali said the board also approved 20,000 bags of rice, 20,000 cartons of macaroni, and 10,000 gallons of vegetable oil for the victims.
He said: “After the review, the board approved the release of N3 billion to the state government to be distributed to SMEs that were affected.
“The board also gave the directive that the commission should get fully involved in the rehabilitation of the affected facilities as well as attending to environmental issues like cleaning of the town and WASH intervention.
“In terms of immediate intervention, the board, apart from other things already done, approved 20,000 bags of rice, 20,000 cartons of macaroni, and 10,000 gallons of vegetable oil.”
Zulum lauded the NEDC and urged it to step up interventions, particularly at this critical time.
He solicited more collaboration with the state government for effective services to the people.
The delegation also visited the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Umar-Garbai El -Kanemi whose palace was also affected.
At the palace, the NEDC board chairman, Maj.-Gen. Paul Tarfa (rtd.), announced N50 million in support for the Emirate.
Jibrin, who led the Senate team, explained that 108 Senators donated N500,000 to raise N54 million. The Deputy Senate President added in a statement that he announced a donation of N10 million while the Northern Senators Forum donated N10 million.
The Senate delegation to Maiduguri comprised the Chairman of the Northern Senators Forum, Abdulaziz Yar’Adua; the Chairman of the Southern Senators Forum, Adetokunbo Abiru; and Senators Ikra Aliyu Bilbis, Onawo Ogoshi, and Sadiq Umar.
Others were Senators Diket Plang, Babangida Hussaini , Pam Dachungyang, Mohammed Monguno, and Kaka Lawan.
Senator Jibrin, who commiserated with the Borno State Government and the people, said: “Your Excellency (Zulum), we are here to register our condolences and commiserate with you and the entire state over the ugly flood incident in this beautiful Borno last week.
“Yesterday (Monday), when the President of the Senate (Godswill Akpabio) came, he did not tell you what we intended to donate. The situation of the victims profoundly touches us. After our meeting yesterday (Monday), we agreed to donate the sum of N54,000,000 . Each senator is donating N500,000, which will be N54 million.
“Personally, I am donating the sum of N10million. I pray that this flood will not occur again in Borno State and the entire country. “
Chairman of the Northern caucus of the House of Representatives, Alhassan Doguwa, who led some lawmakers on the visit, announced the N100 million donation on behalf of Speaker Tajudeen Abass and other members of the House.
Dogowa lauded President Bola Tinubu for pledging the federal government’s support to the state government and the affected victims.
“We also pledge the National Assembly’s readiness to liaise with the Federal Government to come up with a legislative framework or any possible budgetary intervention to help state governments address the impacts of flood disasters in the country,” he said.
Spokesman for Peter Obi Media Reach, Ibrahim Umar, said in a statement that the N50 million by Obi and Baba-Ahmad was an “initial donation made to the emergency relief fund of the Borno State government.”
Umar added that LP’s leadership also visited the Shehu of Borno, the Bank of the North spare parts market, where traders lost their goods, and a camp in Government College where they commiserated with a woman who lost her newborn twins to the floods.
The statement by Umar partly reads: “The team told Borno people that the Labour Party is committed to supporting those affected by the devastating floods in Borno State.
‘’To demonstrate our solidarity, we made an initial donation of… ₦50 million to the state government. “We will continue to stand with the people of Borno, providing aid and resources to help them rebuild and recover from this tragedy.’’
Thinklab Charity Foundation, a subsidiary of Thinklab Group Limited, which donated N20 million cash to support the victims, also announced a long-term intervention of N10 million for research on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) and control measures to mitigate the effects of future disasters.
Founder and Chairman of the foundation, Sa’id Alkali Kori, said he was deeply moved by the suffering of the victims.
Zulum, represented by the Chairman of the Committee on Flood, Baba Bukar Gujbawu, expressed gratitude to Dr. Kori and Thinklab Group Limited for their generosity.
He said: “We are thankful for this kind gesture from Dr. Kori and Thinklab Group Limited. This donation will go a long way in supporting our relief efforts and providing succour to the victims of the flood disaster.”
