The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) says Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, and Anambra are likely to be flooded following the release of water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon.

Mustapha Ahmed, NEMA’s director-general, who disclosed this at the National Emergency Coordination Forum meeting on Wednesday in Abuja, said others include Enugu, Edo, Delta, Rivers, and Bayelsa states.

He said the states located at downstream must begin to make concerted efforts to address and mitigate the impact of the impending flooding.

Mr Ahmed said the country had commenced the release of water from the dam at the rate of 200 cubic metres per second, which is about 18 million cubic metres of water per day.

He said the release may result in all frontline states experiencing flooding in subsequent days and weeks.

“Information available from the flow level of the River Benue at Nigerian Hydrological Service Agency (NIHSA) gauging station at Makurdi stood at 8.97 metres as of August 25, 2023, compared to 8.80 metres on the same date in 2022.

“Also, NIHSA has provided that the flow level of the River Niger system, especially at Niamey, Niger Republic, remains stable at a normal level of 4.30 metres.

“Similarly, inland dams, including Kainji, Jebba and Shiroro, reported consistent flow regimes,” he said.

The director-general added that all stakeholders should evacuate Nigerians from various communities to safer destinations to mitigate possible flood disasters this year.

He, however, called on Nigerians to remain calm as the agency would continue to work with other government partners to provide succour, including food and non-food items, to affected people in the IDP camps and host communities.

(NAN)