The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has advised Nigerians not to be concerned about the release of excess water from Cameroon's Lagdo Dam.

In a press statement on Monday, August 28, 2023, Mr. Manzo Ezekiel, the head of the agency’s press unit, reassured the public that NEMA is collaborating with federal, state, and local stakeholders to ensure that the water release has minimal negative effects.

Ezekiel emphasized that measures are in place to prevent significant damage, particularly in low-lying communities along the states that might be impacted. The states downstream of River Benue include Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Anambra, Enugu, Edo, Delta, Rivers, and Bayelsa.

He mentioned that NEMA had anticipated this water release from Lagdo Dam, taking into account potential impacts and incorporating them into preparations for addressing the 2023 flood alert. According to data from the Nigerian Hydrological Service Agency (NIHSA), the flow level of River Benue in Makurdi was 8.97 meters on August 25, 2023, compared to 8.80 meters on the same date in 2022.

Ezekiel also highlighted that the flow level of the River Niger system at Niamey, Niger Republic, remains stable at a normal level of 4.30 meters. He noted that inland dams like Kainji, Jebba, and Shiroro have reported consistent flow patterns.

Regarding the hydrological station at the confluence of the Niger and Benue rivers in Lokoja, Kogi, the flow levels are currently within the normal range. However, downstream monitoring station data showed a flow level of 7.80 meters on August 25, 2023, compared to 8.24 meters on the same date in 2022.