NOA DG launches awareness campaign in states affected by Lagdo dam release
Flood
NOA DG launches awareness campaign in states affected by Lagdo dam release
Abdullateef Fowewe
The Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, Lanre Issa-Onilu, has ordered an awareness campaign in states affected by the anticipated release of water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon.
The affected states are, Kogi, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Anambra, Bayelsa, and Delta.
The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency has indicated that the Nigerian government has been notified by Cameroonian authorities that it will soon release excess water from the dam, urging Nigeria to take precautionary measures to prevent damage to property and loss of life.
The initiative according to a statement Dailyeconomy obtained on Friday from the NOA Deputy Director of Press, Paul Odenyi, aims to prepare communities for potential flooding as the dam’s management has begun controlled water releases starting September 17, 2024.
Noting the urgency, Odenyi mentioned that the DG instructed state directorates, particularly in the eleven frontline states, to begin ward-to-ward campaigns in all local governments identified as at risk.
Odeniyi quoted the DG saying, “We will not wait for the floods to deliver the message to our people. They must have all the information needed to make informed decisions, as we have been given this alert from our neighbouring country. What happened two years ago and in 2012 should serve as a lesson to us all..
“Coastal communities should be evacuated immediately, while emergency food banks and medical facilities must be established as these communities relocate. We must also ensure that children are enrolled in safer schools without facing any disadvantage.”
However, Issa-Onilu enjoined States and Local Governments to take NIHSA’s warning seriously and implement measures to mitigate threats to communities in flood-prone areas.
He also called for technical support from stakeholders and government institutions with expert knowledge to ensure that no one is displaced or falls victim to the probable floods.
