KEY POINTS
- Nigeria’s food-producing regions brace for potential flooding as Cameroon releases water from the Lagdo Dam.
- Previous dam releases caused devastating floods, threatening agriculture and livelihoods.
- Authorities urge residents to prepare and take precautionary measures to minimize losses.
Nigeria is worried because Cameroon is letting water out of its Lagdo Dam. This might cause floods in Nigeria’s farmlands, which could be really bad for the country’s food. Everyone is watching and hoping the worst doesn’t happen.
The flood scare
Cameroon started releasing water from the Lagdo Dam a few days ago. This made people in Nigeria nervous, especially those living near rivers. In the past, when water was released, it caused big floods. Rivers overflowed, and farms, homes, and even roads were covered with water.
Nigeria’s weather experts are warning that places near the rivers, like Benue and Kogi states, are in danger. People there are scared because they’ve seen floods like this before, which ruined crops and forced people to leave their homes.
Farming in trouble
The central part of Nigeria grows a lot of the food for the country. Farmers there plant important crops like rice, maize, and yam. But if the fields get flooded, those crops could be destroyed. If that happens, there won’t be enough food for everyone.
According to Reuters, previously when Cameroon let water out of the dam, the fields were soaked, and farming became impossible. Now, the Nigerian government is telling people to get ready for the flood. Farmers are trying to save whatever crops they can before the water comes.
It’s not just the farms that are in danger. Roads and bridges might get damaged too, making it hard for people to get help and for food to be delivered where it’s needed.
Getting ready
Nigeria is trying to prepare. Local leaders are telling people to leave areas that might flood. They’re also setting up places where people can stay if they have to leave their homes. Groups that help during disasters are ready to help if things get bad.
Some farmers aren’t waiting. In places near the Benue River, farmers are gathering their crops early, trying to save what they can. But some people don’t have enough money or help to leave, which means they might be stuck when the floodwaters come.
Thinking about the future
Right now, everyone is focused on this flood, but people are also thinking about the future. This isn’t the first time Cameroon has released water from the dam, and it probably won’t be the last. Some experts say Nigeria and Cameroon need to work together to stop these floods from happening again and again.
They think building better flood defenses and managing water between the two countries could help. But for now, farmers and families in Nigeria are just hoping the flood won’t be as bad as it could be.
