NEMA Monitors Cameroon Dam as Flood Risk Rises

ABUJA, Nigeria — The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is monitoring water levels at Cameroon’s Lagdo Dam over the risk of flooding along the River Benue as authorities strengthen preparations for possible flood emergencies during the 2026 rainy season.

NEMA disclosed the development in its July-August 2026 scorecard submitted to the Office of the National Security Adviser. The agency said monitoring the dam was part of measures to anticipate and reduce the impact of possible flooding on communities downstream.

The Lagdo Dam is located on the Benue River in Cameroon. Water flowing through the river system eventually enters Nigeria, making changes in the dam and upstream conditions important to flood preparedness in Nigerian communities along the Benue.

NEMA’s latest monitoring effort comes as the agency has stepped up its wider flood-response preparations. In August, Director-General Zubaida Umar activated the National Emergency Operations Centre to coordinate information and response activities relating to the 2026 flood season. 

The agency has also been working with the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency and other stakeholders to improve early-warning systems and ensure that information on flood risks reaches vulnerable communities promptly.

NEMA had earlier warned residents in flood-prone areas to remain alert, follow official advisories and move to safer locations when necessary. It also advised people to avoid walking or driving through floodwaters and to keep drainage channels free of refuse. 

The renewed attention on Lagdo Dam is linked to the history of flooding along the River Benue. In 2023, NEMA said Cameroon had released water from the dam at a rate of about 200 cubic metres per second and identified 11 Nigerian states downstream as potentially vulnerable. 

The agency has also recorded the severe consequences of past flooding. NEMA said the 2022 flood disaster resulted in 665 deaths, more than 2.4 million displaced people and more than 4.4 million people affected nationwide. 

The current monitoring does not mean that widespread flooding has occurred because of the dam. Rather, NEMA says the surveillance is intended to provide early information and allow authorities to take preventive measures before a potential emergency develops.

The monitoring is particularly significant because the federal government recently identified hundreds of communities across several states as facing critical or high flood risks between August 27 and September 9, 2026. 

NEMA’s approach reflects a broader shift towards early warning and preparedness, with the agency saying timely and reliable information is essential for protecting lives, property and livelihoods during the rainy season. 

With the NEMA Lagdo Dam monitoring exercise continuing, authorities are expected to maintain surveillance of water levels and provide further advisories where necessary.

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