The National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA and Federal Ministry of
Foreign Affairs has alerted Cross River State government of imminent severe
weather and flood due to the announcement by the Cameroon government to release water from the Lagdo Dam.
Information available from the flow level of River Benue at Nigerian
Hydrological Service Agency (NIHSA) gauging station in Makurdi stood at 8.97
meters as of Aug. 25, compared to 8.80 meters on the same date in 2022.
This may result to heavy rain and strong winds with floods and severe weather-
related incidents in Bakassi, Yala, Ogoja, Calabar Municipality, Obubra,
Akpabuyo, Yakurr, Ikom, Etung, Odukpani and Biase Local Government Areas of the State.
The State Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs envisaged this release of excess
water from the Lagdo Dam, taken note of the likely impacts and considered in
the preparations for mitigation and response to the 2023 flood alert.
We want to assure Cross Riverians that the State government is committed to
the prevention, mitigation and proffering solutions to ensure the release does
not probably cause negative impacts to the aforementioned LGA\’s.
We hereby enjoin critical stakeholders, community leaders, traditional rulers,
the media, youth groups, Non-Governmental organizations, Religious
Institutions and well-meaning Cross Riverians to join us in this advocacy.
Thank you.
