By Kamil Opeyemi
No fewer than nine states in Nigeria are under extreme fears after the announcement by Cameroon that it is set to open the Lagdo Dam.
The Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs had in a letter signed by Ambassador Umar Salisu, informed the National Emergency Management Agency that the ministry was in receipt of a letter from the Cameroonian authorities of plans to open the floodgates of the dam because of the pressure caused by endless rains in the dam area.
Though the letter had said that the Dam authorities would be doing controlled release of the water, it warned that it was necessary for the appropriate authority to take precautionary measures to avert disasters.
According to Salisu, the Cameroonian authorities will be releasing “only modulated variable small amount of water at a time”.
The letter added, “I have the honour to inform that the Ministry is in receipt of a Note Verbale from the High Commission of the Republic of Cameroon informing that Cameroonian officials have resolved to open the flood gates of the Lagdo Dam on the Benue River in days ahead due to the heavy rainfall around the Dam catchment area in Northern Cameroon.
“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 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 sensitize the populace living in such areas for vigilance and all necessary precautions”.
States to be affected are mostly along the path of River Benue .
Some of the states include Lagos, Benue and Delta, Ogun, Osun Kogi.