Address Lagdo dam opening, Reps tell FG

The House of Representatives on Tuesday urged the Federal Government to address the frequent flooding occasioned by the opening of the Lagdo dam, situated in northern Cameroon.

The resolution of the House followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance on the “Need to investigate the recurrent flooding due to the opening of the Lagdo Dam, sponsored by the Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda.

Rallying his colleagues to support the motion, Chinda recalled that the Lagdo Dam built in 1982 primarily for irrigation and electricity generation, “Release excess water to prevent overflow, which inevitably flows downstream into Nigeria, causing significant flooding in states along the river, including Borno, Adamawa, Benue, Taraba, Kogi, and beyond.”

He added that the recurrent loss of lives, displacement of communities, destruction of farmlands, livestock, and homes, and damage to critical infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, schools, and healthcare facilities, is a source of concern to Nigeria.

He said, “Despite early warnings by the Nigerian authorities about the release of water from the Lagdo Dam, many communities remain unprepared and are left vulnerable to the devastating impacts of the floods.”

“While the construction of a buffer dam, the proposed Dasin Hausa Dam in Adamawa State, was agreed upon in principle between Nigeria and Cameroon to help contain the excess water from the Lagdo Dam, this project has remained stalled for years due to funding and bureaucratic delays.

“There is an urgent need for the Federal Government to develop long-term solutions to mitigate the impact of the annual flooding and to protect vulnerable communities along the River Benue and Niger basins.

“Unless swift actions are taken to engage relevant stakeholders, both within and outside Nigeria, to mitigate these annual disasters and to provide lasting solutions for affected communities, the situation will persist annually with each year worse than the former, thus diminishing the confidence of the people in the leaders.”

Consequently, the House mandated the Nigerian/Cameroon Friendship Group to investigate the Nigerian/Cameroon arrangement/agreement on the Lagdo dam and mitigation measures therein and advise the House within two weeks for further legislative action.

It also directed the Federal Ministries of Water Resources and Works to expedite the completion of the Dasin Hausa Dam in Adamawa State, which will act as a buffer and help absorb excess water released from the Lagdo Dam.

It further mandated the National Emergency Management Agency in collaboration with State Emergency Management Agencies to henceforth enhance early warning systems and improve evacuation and relief efforts for communities in flood-prone areas before the event.