The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Thursday advised residents of Makurdi, Benue State capital to relocate to higher grounds over the rising level of River Benue. The image of the river water level on a marker which was shared with journalists by NEMA indicated that the water had risen to an “emergency level,” meaning there is a high tendency of flooding incidents in the area.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has said that the water level of River Benue is still below the emergency level. Pictures of the water level marker on River Benue which were shared with journalists on Tuesday showed that there was no danger of flooding yet. “The close shot shows the level is still under emergency level,” Ibrahim Farinloye, NEMA Lagos territorial coordinator, said on Tuesday.
Observations from the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) have shown an increase in the volume of water flow along the River Benue downstream. It was noted that the flow level at NIHSA's gauging station in Makurdi, Benue State was at 8.97 meters as of August 25, 2023, compared to 8.80 meters on the same date in 2022. SaharaReporters reported on Sunday that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for East and Central African Division had alerted the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to an impending flooding along the River Benue basin.
Adamawa, Taraba and some other Nigerian states have been identified as the first point of contact when the volume of water from downstream River Benue increases. Authorities in Cameroon have alerted the Nigerian government that they would open Lagdo Dam to release water, which will put some Nigerian states at risk of being flooded.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has listed the Nigerian states on the downstream of River Benue that could be affected by the release of water from Lagdo Dam in Cameroon. SaharaReporters earlier reported that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for East and Central African Division had alerted NEMA to an impending flooding along the River Benue basin.