The Federal Government has warned that several states would experience severe flooding over the next seven days as a result of the opening of the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon.
This forecast was made on Monday by Betta Edu, the minister of humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation, at a meeting with the ministers of water resources and the environment and other stakeholders about how to lessen the effects of the flooding in Nigeria.
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The minister gave the Nigerian people the assurance that residents in flood-prone states would receive shelter.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) was alerted over impending flooding along the River Benue Basin.
According to the alert, the Cameroonian Government has plans to “open the flood gates of the Lagdo Dam on the Benue River in days ahead”.
In response, the Minister urged the Nigeria Governors’ Forum to step up actions by ensuring the immediate evacuation of Nigerians from flood-prone communities to safer destinations.
She said, “This coordinating meeting is holding at the instance of President Bola Tinubu, who directed such after I raised the issue of flooding in today’s Federal Executive Council meeting. Mr President directed that all relevant ministries must meet to find a solution to the issue of flooding.
“As earlier stated, the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon was opened recently and we will see the effect in the coming days. Flood has been a major issue in Nigeria and has been causing loss of lives and property. We have been given a task by Mr President to ensure proper preparedness against the effect of the opening of the Lagdo Dam.
“One of the things government in different states must begin to do is to ensure that drainages are cleaned. Blockages must be removed. Also, proper enlightenment and sensitisation of residents must be carried out.
“Residents in affected areas must begin to relocate to safer planes. States must stand up to involuntary relocations. It is inconceivable to witness avoidable loss of lives and property.”
