By Peter Omopo
July 7, 2025 — Abuja, Nigeria — Governments in Benue, Edo, and Bayelsa states have stepped up emergency preparedness in response to mounting concerns over potential flooding from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon, despite official clarification from the Federal Ministry of Water Resources that the dam has not yet been opened.
The proactive measures follow widespread fears of seasonal floods typically associated with the release of water from the Lagdo Dam, which has historically posed serious flooding risks to Nigerian communities along the Benue and Niger River basins.
In Benue State, authorities have intensified public sensitisation campaigns. Speaking with The PUNCH, the Information Officer of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Tema Ager, said the state government was not taking any chances.
“The Minister of Water Resources has said we should dismiss the report that Cameroon had released water from Lagdo Dam,” Ager said. “Nevertheless, the government has launched radio jingles and other awareness campaigns to alert residents to the risks of flooding.”
Ager added that the state awaits further directives from the Federal Government while continuing to coordinate with stakeholders on potential response strategies.
In Edo State, the Executive Director of the Edo State Flood, Erosion and Watershed Management Agency, Ahmed Momoh, also confirmed there was no official notification regarding the dam’s release. However, he said the state government remained vigilant.
“Though we have not been notified of any release, the state is fully prepared to manage the effects if it happens,” Momoh said. “We recently conducted inspection tours across erosion-prone areas in Edo North as part of our preventive efforts.”
Momoh added that the government had been actively responding to earlier flood warnings issued by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and was committed to addressing environmental degradation.
Meanwhile, in Bayelsa State, officials have echoed similar sentiments. The Head of the State Directorate of Flood and Erosion Control, Walson Omusu, said while the state had not received any formal communication about the release of water from the Lagdo Dam, it remained on standby.
“We are always ready,” Omusu stated, adding that Bayelsa’s flood-prone terrain necessitated year-round vigilance and preparedness.
Although the Federal Government, through Water Resources Minister Prof. Joseph Utsev, has debunked rumours of any water release from Cameroon’s Lagdo Dam, the states’ responses reflect lingering anxiety rooted in past experiences—most notably the devastating floods of 2012 and 2022, which were partly triggered by the dam’s discharge.
With the rainy season in full swing, emergency management agencies across the country are expected to remain on high alert, coordinating efforts to mitigate the potential humanitarian and infrastructural impacts of flooding.
