*As FG reveals plans to dredge Niger, Benue rivers
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has alerted Nigerians to expect flood in nine states as Cameroon began the release of water from its Lagdo Dam.
The states are: Adamawa, Anambra, Bayelsa, Benue, Delta, Edo, Kogi, Nasarawa, and Taraba.
The Director General (D-G) of NEMA, Mr. Mustapha Ahmed, disclosed this on Saturday in Abuja when he briefed journalists on the release of water from the dam.
He said the nine affected states, which have communities along the banks of River Benue may be affected by the water release, which is expected to last till the end of October.
Ahmed said the recent release has so far led to the displacement of communities and could lead to further destruction of crops and other infrastructure.
“NEMA has been alerted on sudden increased inundation of riverine communities and farmlands along the banks of River Niger in Adamawa, Taraba and Benue states in the past 48 hours.
“The sudden situation is attributed to the rapid release of water from Lagdo dam in the Republic of Cameroon and has resulted in the displacement of several inhabitants of the affected communities.
“Furthermore, crops, lands and valuable infrastructure are at risk of getting washed away by the flood waters.
“Situation reports from Adamawa State confirmed the upsurge of flood waters along the flood plains of River Benue.
“The situation is expected to be replicated in downstream states of Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Anambra, Edo, Delta and Bayelsa as the River Benue joins River Niger and flows to the Atlantic Ocean through the Niger Delta,” he said.
The D-G also cautioned states and local government areas along the River Niger and Benue basins to immediately activate their emergency response plans to avert potential damage and losses that could arise due to the flooding of communities.
Ahmed added that so far, 159,157 persons have been affected by this year’s flooding, while 28 persons died and 48,168 others displaced in 13 states across the country.
He, however, added that the agency would continue to provide further updates as it received more situation reports from the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) as well as frontline states’ emergency management agencies.
Meanwhile, the Federal government has disclosed plans to resume the dredging of the Niger and Benue rivers.
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, disclosed this on Saturday in Ilorin, Kwara State, on the sidelines of the closing ceremony of the graduate youth empowerment scheme and distribution of items organised by the Lower Niger River Basin Authority.
Prof. Utsev noted that his ministry has established a few committees to focus on the specifics of the two rivers’ dredging procedures.
He said: “Dredging of Rivers Niger and Benue is what we are working on. We have actually put some committees in place.
“The committees will do the assessment on the feasibility of the dredging. After that, we will discuss with President Bola Tinubu. At that point in time, we will make it open to all Nigerians to know where we are on the dredging of the two rivers.”
The minister added that his ministry was working round the clock to ensure provision of portable water for drinking, sanitation and irrigation for Nigerians.
He said that “water for irrigation will be used to provide food for the enhancement of food security and ultimately generate income and empowerment as you can see some youths being empowered today.
“Water is not only important, it is very necessary in the existence of living organisms. Without water there will be no life.
“President Tinubu in his renewed hope agenda promises Nigerians to work on food security, revive Nigeria’s economy and by reviving the economy– which food security is very key– in addition to healthcare and security.
“We at the ministry are working assiduously to see how we can provide potable water for drinking, sanitation and irrigation.”