𝗡𝗜𝗚𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗔; 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻

Over the years, flooding has wreaked unprecedented havoc in Nigeria by destroying lives and properties worth billions of Naira and also displacing millions and yet, the government has chosen to keep her citizens in the dark. Willfully refused to take proactive measures to address or abate this perennial problem. They have decided to show the world their weaknesses and their incapability to fulfill their number one oath of office (protection of lives and properties) with pride.

On September 19, 2022, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) released a press statement that the Cameroonian Lagdo dam operators commenced the release of excess water from the reservoir on September 13, 2023. This action triggered the flooding witnessed in Nigeria today. 

The water released from the reservoir spills down to Nigeria through River Benue and its tributaries thereby causing the frontline Communities in Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Niger, Nasarawa, Kebbi, Kogi, Edo, Delta, Anambra, Cross River, Rivers, and Bayelsa state respectively along River Niger and Benue to submerged. 

Lagdo Reservoir is a lake located in the Northern Province of Cameroon. The lake covers an area of 586 km2. It is located at 8°53′N 13°58′E (Wikipedia). 

The Dam is located 50 km south of Garoua village on the Benue River and was constructed by China International water and electric corp to generate electricity for northern Cameroon and also for irrigation purposes.

For this mess to have been curtailed, Nigeria would have constructed her Dam (Dasin Hausa Dam) that will contain water released from the Lagdo Dam but sadly, they failed to do so leaving the poor citizens at a sad receiving end of their negligence. 

In 2012, over 50 people died, millions were displaced, and properties worth millions of Naira were destroyed. 

Houses were submerged and farmland was flooded leaving the streets and people's houses in some of the affected areas with dangerous creeping creatures such as snakes and crocodiles.

The Federal Government of Nigeria led by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan pumped in a relief fund of N17.6 billion to various states to mitigate its effect but still, nothing has been done and this horrible effect playback on us again leaving me with the question "How long shall we continue this way?.  Will the Bilateral discussion and agreement put an end to this issue?'. Certainly not! This is because Cameroonian authorities will not close their floodgate and sit to watch their Dan damage. 

It could be wise to remember that, after the 2012 flooding, the Nigerian government send a high-powered delegation led by the then Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe to Yaounde in 2013 to confer with the Cameroonian authorities to demand a commitment from them on how to arrest the worrisome situation, especially as the downstream areas of the dam in Nigeria had been experiencing periodic flooding.

Yes, an agreement was reached but does that stop the issue? No.

Therefore, it is high time for the Nigerian government to wake up and face the reality of this ugly incident by constructing her dam for this negligence has brought untold hardship to the country leading to high inflation. 

Nigeria; Stop being the killer of your children.