Lagdo Dam release wreaking havoc, Edo group laments

The Edo Concerned Stakeholders Development Initiative has sounded the alarm over the continuous plight of the people of Edo State due to the release of water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon.

The ECSDI President, Oluwafemi Idiakhoa, in a statement on Monday, expressed concern that the situation in Edo State was often under-reported, despite the devastating impact on its residents and infrastructure.

“The construction of the Lagdo Dam began in 1977 and was completed in 1982, with the initial aim of providing electricity and supporting irrigation in Northern Cameroon. In anticipation of the potential impact downstream, Nigeria and Cameroon entered into an agreement. Nigeria promised to construct the Dasin Hausa Dam in Adamawa State, a shock-absorber designed to contain and mitigate potential flooding from the Lagdo Dam releases. However, four decades have passed, and the Dasin Hausa Dam remains an unfinished dream. The consequence of this oversight is felt most acutely in states like Edo, which face the brunt of the flooding,” he said.

The group called on the government to find a lasting solution to the crisis situation, adding that community leaders in Edo must be carried along, given “their insights, derived from lived experiences.”

“Regional collaboration, extending beyond Nigeria and Cameroon, is essential. The River Niger and River Benue basins span multiple countries, and a collective effort can lead to holistic solutions,” the group said