The Republic of Cameroon will open the Lagdo dam in the days ahead to contain the heavy rainfall that northern Cameroon has recently witnessed, Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs communicated to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) last week Monday. 

In the letter signed by the ministry’s director of African affairs, Umar Salisu, NEMA is urged to take proactive measures to mitigate the adverse effects that the action could have in Nigeria, especially in communities along the Niger and Benue river and its tributaries.

“According to the note, it is pertinent to note that when the release of water becomes necessary, the authorities of the Lagdo Dam will be releasing only a modulated variable small amount of water at a time in order to mitigate and avoid damages that the released water may cause along the River Benue basin in both Cameroon and in Nigeria.

“In view of the above, it would be appreciated if the esteemed agency takes all the necessary proactive steps and actions that will mitigate the damage as well as sensitise the populace living in such areas for vigilance and all necessary precautions,” the letter read. 

Northern Cameroon has recently borne the brunt of heavy rainfall, leading to rising water levels in the Lagdo dam. The dam on the Benue River serves as a vital reservoir, providing water for irrigation, power generation, and flood control. 

However, as water levels approach critical points, the Cameroonian authorities have decided to open the dam’s gates to release excess water to safeguard the dam’s structural integrity and the surrounding areas from potential flooding.

The recurring opening of the dam, resulting in a flooding crisis in communities along the Niger and Benue rivers, has become an unfortunate and anticipated feature of Nigeria’s rainy season.

Also, it exposes the underlying challenges posed by infrastructure deficit, lack of proper planning, inadequate drainage systems, poorly designed waterways, and insufficient flood control infrastructure, which leave many areas susceptible to the devastating effects of flooding.

Although NEMA has not released official information regarding its plans to address the potential crisis, it recently reconvened the Emergency Coordination Forum (ECF). 

The forum consists of critical agencies in the prediction and management of natural disasters, such as the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET), Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, World Food Programme (WFP), and other agencies.

The reconvening of the Emergency Coordination Forum could signal a commitment to collaborative crisis management, data-driven decision-making, and proactive strategies, which would be a radical departure from the previous state of Nigeria’s emergency management sector, plagued by inadequate data, inefficient distribution of relief items, and sluggish responses to life-threatening crises.