Reps to FG: Complete Dasin Hausa Dam to absolve excess water from Lagdo

By Christiana Ekpa

The House of Representatives on Tuesday asked the federal government to expedite the completion of the Dasin Hausa Dam in Adamawa state, which will act as a buffer and help to absorb excess water released from the Lagdo Dam and the rehabilitation of critical infrastructure in flood-prone areas across the country.

The House also asked the Nigerian/Cameroon Friendship Group to investigate the Nigerian/Cameroon arrangement/agreement on the Lagdo dam and mitigation measures therein.

The House resolution followed a motion of urgent public importance by the Minority Leader of three House, Kingsley Chinda (PDP, Rivers), the House asked the Federal Ministry of Environment to undertake a comprehensive study of the impact of climate change and the Lagdo Dam’s annual release on Nigeria’s riverine communities and to develop an actionable flood management plan to protect lives and properties.

It also asked the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), in collaboration with State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAS), to henceforth enhance early warning systems and improve evacuation and relief efforts for communities in flood-prone areas before the event.

Chinda said the Lagdo Dam was built in 1982 primarily for irrigation and electricity generation, adding that every year, during the rainy season, the dam operators in Cameroon release excess water to prevent overflow, which inevitably flows downstream into Nigeria, causing significant flooding in states along the river, including Borno, Adamawa, Benue, Taraba, Kogi, and beyond.

He expressed concern about the recurrent loss of lives, displacement of communities, destruction of farmlands, livestock, and homes, and damage to critical infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, schools, and healthcare facilities, as a result of this flooding.

He said further that despite early warnings by the Nigerian authorities about the release of water from the Lagdo Dam, many communities remain unprepared and are left vulnerable to the devastating impacts of the floods.

He said while the construction of a buffer dam, the proposed Dasin Hausa Dam in Adamawa State, was agreed upon in principle between Nigeria and Cameroon to help contain the excess water from the Lagdo Dam, this project has remained stalled for years due to funding and bureaucratic delays.

Chinda said there was an urgent need for the Federal Government to develop long-term solutions to mitigate the impact of the annual flooding and to protect vulnerable communities along the River Benue and Niger basins.