Following an announcement by the Cameroon Governmment to release water from the Lagdo Dam, the National Emergency Management Agency NEMA, and Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs have alerted the Cross River State Governmment of severe weather and flood across the state.
Available information at the Nigerian Hydrological Service Agency NIHSA, gauging station in Makurdi said the flow level of River Benue stood at 8.97 meters as of August 25, 2023, compare to 8.80 meters on the same date in 2022.
Conseqently, this may result to heavy rain and strong winds with flood and severe weather related incident across Bakassi, Yala, Ogoja, Calabar Municipality, Obubra, Akpabuyo, Yakurr, IKOM, Etung, Odukpani and Biase LGA’s.
Based on the information, the state Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs in a statement dated August 29, 2923, says it is taken note of the envisage of the likely impact by the release of excess water from the Lagdo Dam. And considered in preparations for mitigation and response to the 2023, flood alert.
Signed by the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Dr. Hellen Isamoh Egodo, the statement assures Cross Riverians that the state government is committed to prevention, mitigation and proffering solutions to ensure the release does not cause negative impacts to the aforementioned LGA’s.
It enjoined critical stakeholders, traditional rulers, community leaders, the media, youth groups, Non-governmental organization, religious institutions and well meaning Cross Riverians to join hands in the advocacy.