Concerned about the anticipated release of water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon into the River Niger and River Benue, states along the flood path are beginning to prepare temporary shelters for residents at risk of being affected.
The Federal Government alerted Nigerians on Tuesday to the plan by the Cameroonian authorities to release water from the Lagdo Dam.
A statement by the Director General/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, Umar Muhammed, listed 11 states at risk.
They are Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Edo, Delta, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross Rivers, and Rivers.
The statement also called on the Federal Government to dredge the River Niger as a permanent solution to the perennial flooding in the region. The Nigeria Meteorological Agency listed Patigi, Edu, Moro, Kaiama, and Ilorin East Local Government Areas of the state as flood-prone areas.
In a release issued on Wednesday by the Supervising Police Public Relations Officer North-East, Ahmed Wakil, the state Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Yusufu, said the command was collaborating with pertinent agencies to uphold law and order, ensure public safety, prevent criminal activities, and facilitate the rescue of affected individuals.
Authorities asked residents to maintain vigilance and promptly report any suspicious activities or individuals, refrain from entering flooded areas to minimize the risk of water-borne diseases and accidents, exercise awareness regarding potential incidents of looting and theft, and extend cooperation to emergency responders and humanitarian aid workers. It also urged them to validate information before dissemination to prevent the spread of misinformation.
