NOA calls for massive campaign ahead of Lagdo Dam water release

By Abubakar Yunusa

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has launched an urgent public sensitisation campaign in Nigeria’s flood-prone regions as Cameroonian authorities prepare to release excess water from the Lagdo Dam.

Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, the Director General of NOA, issued the directive to the agency’s Community Orientation Officers to begin immediate ward-to-ward campaigns in at-risk communities across eleven states.

The states, identified as being most vulnerable, include Kogi, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Anambra, Bayelsa, and Delta.

This move follows an alert from the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), which notified the Nigerian government of the impending water release, urging swift precautionary measures to prevent a repeat of devastating floods that occurred in previous years.

“We cannot afford to wait for the floods to serve as a reminder. Our people must be equipped with the information they need to make life-saving decisions,” said Issa-Onilu.

He stressed that the sensitisation efforts will involve providing residents with critical safety advice, floodplain maps, emergency contact information, and guidance on impact points.

Issa-Onilu further called for the immediate evacuation of coastal communities and the establishment of emergency food banks and medical facilities to support those affected.

He also urged local authorities to ensure that displaced children have access to alternative schooling without interruption to their education.

The Director General’s statement also appealed to state and local governments to heed NIHSA’s warnings, implement risk mitigation strategies, and ensure that technical support is mobilised to safeguard vulnerable communities.