Mr Clement Nze, Director General of NIHSA, who made this known to newsmen at a news conference at NIHSA headquarters on Monday in Abuja, listed the states as Edo, Delta, Rivers, Anambra and Bayelsa.
According to him, the current devastating flooding incidents ravaging parts of Adamawa, Taraba, Benue and Kogi states, and invariably cascading down to Edo, Delta, Anambra, Rivers and Bayelsa states informed the necessity of the briefing.
Nze noted that the cause of the current flooding incident is as a result of the opening of the floodgates of the Lagdo Dam managed by the Cameroonian authorities, from the 10th of October to the 31st of October.
“After several weeks of denial, the Cameroonian authorities responsible for the operation of the Lagdo Dam confirmed to NIHSA that it released water from the Dam.
“This was communicated to the NIHSA thus: In any case, it should be noted that this year is an exceptional year in terms of rainfall in the sub-region because it continued to rain up to the usual periods.
`Regarding the Lagdo Dam, the vanes were opened only around October 10, 2019 in anticipation of floods upstream, and would like to inform you that the floodgates of the Lagado Dam have been closed for the rainy season campaign since yesterday October 31, 2019’’ he said.
He said the current development of the non-disclosure of information on the operation of the Lagdo Dam runs contrary to the spirit and letter of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the two countries in 2015.
“It was after the year 2012 devastating flooding incidents in Nigeria which caused the release of excess water from the Cameroonian dam that the two countries signed the MoU.
“The MoU amongst other things require that the Cameroonian authorities give adequate and prior notice to Nigeria before release of excess water downstream the dam.
“The non-existence of a dam within the Nigeria portion of the Benue sub-basin makes Nigeria vulnerable in the event of sudden or unannounced release of water from the Lagdo Dam“ he said.
Nze, therefore, said the unannounced release of water by the Cameroonian authorities will imminently have an adverse effect on Nigeria, NAN reports.
The DG also said that both Kainji and Jebba Dams on River Niger in Lokoja are still excess water downstream, which has invariably contributed to the rising level of the River Niger in Lokoja.
Nze, therefore, called on the states to be on ‘Red Alert’ to immediately identify the communities bordering the River Niger and make adequate plans for timely evacuation of people to safe and higher grounds in the event of flooding
from dailypost
Evacuation from where to where? Be on the Red alert to do what? Does the fed govt have any plan's in place to help its citizens in times of disasters? No quick response no nothing.
ReplyDeleteZero plans. That's how Ogun state governor came to my estate about 2 weeks back to survey the flood situation, and I ask what his suggestion is on the way forward, absolutely nothing meaningful.
DeleteAccording to the article, a dam is needed in the benue basin in order to checkmate any excess water released from the Cameroon own but govt won't see that one to spend money on. It's to be travelling up and down, increasing their allowances they know.
ReplyDeleteNa this kain thing dey cause diplomatic rift between Egypt and Ethiopia. How Nigeria and Cameroon no fit liaise, at least viz. early warning mechanisms?
ReplyDeleteNHISA una dey try sha. But later only NEMA go take credit
Haaaa!!! Hey God what kind of nonsense is this!!! Really when the festive season is around the corner??
ReplyDeleteEven my state is one of them.
ReplyDeleteIs ok.
Shame on us Nigerians. We are signing MOU for prior information, so even if they told us, how do we prevent flooding. We are supposed to have built a dam in the Confluence state. It would even help with power generation. Lets keep suffering our citizens. Nigerian government, please have small sense. People are suffering too much.
ReplyDeleteflood is already in kogi now, except few area in lokoja, and to get house in those areas na real money.
ReplyDeleteSo they should evacuate from where to where?
ReplyDeleteMy dad lost millions of naira in this flooding already in October in his farm. Cat fish farm. Am talking of over 30mil. Years and years of investment. In all we can only give thanks to God that we all are alive.
ReplyDeleteOh😩may God replenish your family...!!
DeleteSo this opening of damn ish I've been hearing is actually true😯😯😯
ReplyDeleteI argued with my driver and husband a few days back that it's not true.
Here in Bayelsa, we have bin living inside d flood laidat since October🤷Bt I noticed d water is receding dis week...Abi d dam opening wan bring another flood in December?
ReplyDeleteHmmm abeg where will they move them to? Hope they have made provision for them before publicizing?
ReplyDeleteWe should be talking about harmattan now, not flooding!
ReplyDelete