Daniel Otera
As apprehension mounts over the potential release of water from Cameroon’s Lagdo Dam and the onset of heavy seasonal rainfall, governments in several Nigerian states are intensifying early response efforts to avert a repeat of previous flood disasters.
Although the Federal Ministry of Water Resources has dismissed reports that the dam has been opened, emergency agencies in Benue, Edo, and Bayelsa have begun public sensitisation campaigns and mitigation planning in flood-prone communities.
Nigeria’s 2022 floods were described by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) as the worst in more than a decade. According to figures reported by Reuters, the disaster claimed 612 lives, displaced over 1.4 million people, and affected 33 states, including the Federal Capital Territory.
A post-disaster review by NEMA and other agencies attributed the widespread damage to excessive rainfall, the delayed release of water from Cameroon’s Lagdo Dam, and systemic failures in domestic flood management — including blocked drainage systems and unregulated construction in wetlands.
Further analysis by PM News Nigeria emphasised that the absence of a comprehensive flood strategy and bilateral protocols on dam water release significantly worsened the situation. Over 440,000 hectares of farmland were submerged, exacerbating food insecurity across vulnerable regions.
Benue State, which lies along the Benue River and has historically suffered from seasonal flooding, has activated its early flood response framework.
“The Minister of Water Resources has said that we should dismiss the report stating that Cameroon had released water from Lagdo Dam,” said Tema Ager, Information Officer of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).
“So, we don’t have any report that Cameroon has released water from its dam, nevertheless, the government is not resting on its oars to be caught unawares,” she added. “We have begun sensitisation through jingles on radio stations in the state to alert the people of possible flooding.”
Data from the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) shows that between 4 and 9 September 2024, flooding affected over 7,000 individuals across 22 local government areas in Benue. A subsequent assessment in December 2024 revealed that over 76,000 people across 15 LGAs were impacted or displaced, with 16% of homes either partially or completely destroyed.
Authorities say multi-agency stakeholder meetings are underway to improve coordination and early warning delivery in high-risk areas.
Although no formal alert has been issued regarding water release from the Lagdo Dam, the Edo State Flood, Erosion and Watershed Management Agency is stepping up its preparedness.
“In a renewed effort to tackle the persistent challenge of erosion and flooding in Edo State, we embarked on a strategic inspection tour across critical gully erosion sites in Edo North,” said Ahmed Momoh, the agency’s Executive Director.
“The state has not been informed of the release of water from the dam but we will be ready to deal with it as it affects the riverine areas mainly,” he added.
According to the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP), Edo is among the most erosion-prone states in southern Nigeria. Multiple communities face recurring flood and erosion risks, particularly in Auchi, Iguosa, Ekenwan, Queen Ede, and Urora.
In 2022, the state government completed flood mitigation works in 15 vulnerable locations under a World Bank-assisted initiative. Phase two of the project, reportedly valued at ₦9 billion, targeted infrastructure upgrades in high-risk zones including Queen Ede and Ekenwan Road.
These interventions, according to government officials and donor reports, aim to strengthen climate resilience and reduce the impacts of uncontrolled runoff in densely populated areas.
Bayelsa State, which recorded the highest displacement figures during the 2022 floods, is reinforcing its preparedness strategy.
Post-disaster reports from humanitarian agencies, including UN OCHA and IOM, indicate that over 1.3 million residents across more than 300 communities in Bayelsa were displaced between September and November 2022. The floods submerged homes, farmlands, and infrastructure in nearly all 13 local government areas of the state.
“We are ready. We have not been informed, but we are always ready,” said Walson Omusu, Head of the Bayelsa Directorate of Flood and Erosion Control.
To reduce this year’s impact, the state government has cleared natural water channels in Yenagoa, Kolokuma/Opokuma, and Sagbama areas consistently affected by flood displacement.
The Bayelsa State Emergency Management Agency estimated losses from the 2022 flood at ₦80 billion, citing disruptions to agriculture, education, and healthcare.
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has also commenced distribution of relief materials to vulnerable communities. At a recent event in Otuasega and Oruma, NDDC Managing Director Dr Samuel Ogbuku stated, “We are committed to alleviating the plight of the people by supporting vulnerable communities.”
He added that the intervention aligns with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and was implemented in partnership with the Ednest Egerue Foundation, a local NGO.
“This donation is done in partnership with an indigenous non-governmental organisation,” he said. Supplies included food items, mattresses, and educational materials.
Receiving the materials, Mr Innocent Abbey, Vice Chairman of the Otuasega Community Development Committee, said, “We are grateful to the NDDC for remembering our people at this difficult time. These items will go a long way in easing the burden on our people.”
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has issued its 2025 Seasonal Climate Prediction, warning of above-normal rainfall in central and southern states between July and September.
At least 28 states have been listed as vulnerable to flash floods and prolonged rainfall, particularly Benue, Kogi, Bayelsa, and Edo, where riverine and urban flooding remain high risks.
NiMet also forecasts delayed rainfall onset in some northern regions, while southern coastal areas may experience heavier-than-average downpours.
Environmental experts have warned that without a legally binding water release protocol between Nigeria and Cameroon, the Lagdo Dam will continue to pose a recurrent flood risk. The long-abandoned Dasin Hausa Dam in Adamawa, originally intended to serve as a buffer, remains incomplete decades after inception.
Analysts also point to the lack of coordination between federal and sub-national actors and chronic underinvestment in drainage and resettlement infrastructure as key obstacles to lasting flood control.
Until systemic reforms are made, experts caution that Nigeria may remain trapped in a cycle of reaction rather than prevention when it comes to disaster risk management.