By Gabriel Ewepu
ABUJA — The Federal Government, through the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NiHSA), has dismissed reports that water is being released from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon, saying there is no cause for alarm.
NiHSA Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, Arc Umar Mohammed, made this known in a statement on Sunday, following reports circulating on social and electronic media linking alleged water releases from the dam to flooding in the Benue River Basin, particularly in Taraba and Benue states.
Mohammed said the reports were false, stressing that the Lagdo Dam authority was currently impounding water rather than releasing it.
“The general public is hereby assured that Lagdo Dam Authority is presently not releasing water from their reservoir but impounding waters into it,” he said.
According to him, reservoir operation data made available to NiHSA showed that the water level at the Lagdo Reservoir was 209.82 metres, compared with its maximum operating level of 216 metres, leaving 6.18 metres of capacity for additional water to be impounded.
Mohammed also said the two major inland dams on the River Niger, Kainji and Jebba, were experiencing low inflows compared with their long-term averages.
He said the water level at Kainji Reservoir was 130.38 metres against a maximum operating level of 141.83 metres, while Jebba Reservoir stood at 100.03 metres, which he said was within its normal operating range.
“Hence, no cause for alarm,” he stated.
The NiHSA boss explained that the flooding currently being experienced in different parts of the country was mainly flash flooding caused by intense and prolonged rainfall.
He added that the situation was being compounded by human activities, including poor drainage systems, indiscriminate waste disposal and unauthorised urban development.
The agency urged Nigerians not to panic or rely on unverified information circulating on social media and other informal platforms.
Mohammed said any water release from Lagdo Dam capable of affecting downstream communities in Nigeria would be subject to established dam-management procedures and communicated through appropriate official channels.
“We urge members of the public, the media and other stakeholders to rely on information issued by the Federal Government and through official channels, and to refrain from sharing unverified reports capable of heightened fear of flood incidents,” he said.
He said the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, through NiHSA, was closely monitoring water levels at the Lagdo Reservoir and other inland rivers across the country.
Mohammed reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to providing reliable, impact-based flood information and early warnings to protect lives, livelihoods and property.
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