Nigerian authorities are issuing urgent warnings of potential widespread flooding across 11 states after Cameroon began releasing water from its Lagdo Dam.
The controlled release is expected to have significant downstream effects, particularly in Nigeria, where millions of people could be impacted.
Umar Muhammed, the Director-General of the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, alerted citizens to the looming threat, recalling last year’s devastating floods that claimed 285 lives nationwide.
The release of water from the Lagdo Dam, which sits on the Benue River in Cameroon, threatens several Nigerian states along the river’s path, raising fears of a repeat disaster.
States at high risk include Benue, Nasarawa, and Kogi, key regions in Nigeria’s north-central agricultural belt.
Southern states like Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers, Nigeria’s oil-producing hubs, are also on high alert, as authorities brace for potential severe flooding.
Humanitarian organizations have expressed grave concerns about the impact on vulnerable populations.
Save the Children International (SCI) has sounded the alarm, particularly in Borno State, where recent floods have already displaced 150,000 children.
Duncan Harvey, SCI’s Country Director, described conditions in 26 internally displaced persons (IDP) camps across the state as “very harsh” for children, who are struggling to survive in overcrowded, unsanitary conditions.
“The situation is dire, and the potential for further flooding could worsen an already precarious situation for these children,” Harvey said.
He stressed the urgency of preparing for the potential influx of displaced persons and the need for immediate humanitarian intervention.
Nigerian authorities and aid organizations are working around the clock to monitor the situation and prepare for the worst, as communities in the affected states brace for the possibility of flooding.
Recall that the International Rescue Committee (IRC) recently declared that the West African region is grappling with a catastrophic flooding crisis that has triggered a state of emergency across Mali, Niger, and Nigeria.
According to the IRC, the unprecedented floods, the worst in 30 years, have displaced hundreds of thousands and claimed hundreds of lives, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian situation.
The committee said the floods have severely impacted food security in the region, destroying farmland and leading to significant crop losses.
