The fury of the flash flood in Maiduguri, Borno State which started on the night of September 9, 2024 and traced to the fracture of Alau Dam, overwhelming the structure and taking over the nearby lowland communities should serve as a timely warning to several other states across the country. It would be recalled that thousands of residents in the northeastern hub of Maiduguri were displaced by the flood.

That was as a result of the torrential rain that led to the partial collapse of the Alau Dam, leading to the collapse of a bridge, the drowning of several wild animals in the local zoo, including crocodiles, snakes and lions.

It also led to the escape of over 200 inmates from the correctional centre, while over 30 people fell as victims to the flushing floods. In addition, one of the three Nutrition Centres run by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) was completely cut off by the flood waters.

But one significant point of notice has to do with the long neglect of the Alau Dam, which led, of course, to its fragile state and eventual disintegration. Yet, a worst case scenario is looming, unless strong, solid and sustainable preventive measures are put in place, and quickly too.

That has become compellingly so, as the Ladgo Dam in Cameroon has been opened, according to the Director General of the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NHSA), Uumar Mohammed.

Though the Cameroonian authorities gave assurance that the release of the water from the dam would be gradual, stating that there was “no cause for alarm,” we have to learn from previous experiences to prevent another environmental catastrophe.

Precisely, we should be ready to glean from the previous devastating experience of 2022. That was when the same Ladgo Dam was opened and the flood escalated to several states across the path of the River Benue. The devastating impact led to the death of over 600 people and a loss of property worth over a whopping $9 billion!

That is according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). To avoid a repeat performance of this alarming loss, a closer view of what really transpired with the directional flow of water from Cameroon to Nigeria is necessary. And better still; identify urgent interjectory measures to be embarked upon.

According to Mohammed, DG, NHSA: “The water discharge is anticipated to progressively escalate to 1,000 m3/s over the next seven days, based on the inflow from the upstream Garoua River, which serves as the primary source into the reservoir and a significant tributary to the Benue River”. Understandably, the Garoua River in the northern part of Cameroon runs along the bank of the larger Benue River that flows in both countries.

That brings to the fore the importance of mass public enlightenment on the root causes of floods, and the important roles they have to play to prevent the taking of precious lives and valuable property

This natural connection perhaps, explains the negative impact on neighbouring Nigeria, as a country. It has therefore become expedient for collaborative efforts to be put in place between the two countries, to stem the rising tides of the raging overflow of the Cameroon based dam.

Firstly, it is worthy of praise that the Federal Government has flagged off flood risks in 11 states. These include Benue, Adamawa, Taraba, Nasarawa, Kogi, Edo, Delta and Anambra.

The others include Bayelsa, Cross River and Rivers. Secondly, is the plan by the Federal Government to build Dasin Hausa Dam; a counterpart in Adamawa State, to contain excess water from the Cameroonian dam. But there is more to be done than promised towards reducing to its barest minimum the menace of the seasonal floods and the crushing effects on the people’s livelihood.

Apart from huge losses of farmlands leading to food insecurity, many people are rendered homeless, worse still in a geo-political zone battling the Boko Haram terrorists with the attendant IDP camps. That brings to the fore the importance of mass public enlightenment on the root causes of floods, and the important roles they have to play to prevent the taking of precious lives and valuable property.

Amongst the causative factors of floods are climate change caused by the uncontrolled emission of hydro-carbon gases from fossil fuels. Others include indiscriminate felling of trees, blocking of canals with all manner of wastes, building of houses close to waterways and refusal by builders to abide by the strict guidelines as laid by the town planning authorities in various states.

The citizens are therefore well advised to take active parts in sanitation of their immediate environment as well as in tree planting. With regards to the ecological funds made available to the state governors there should be judicious application of such huge sums of public funds, instead of it being erroneously channelled to feather their nests.

So it should be with the funds so far raised by the international donor agencies as well as concerned NGOs and philanthropists.

So, as the days go by there should be the close assessment of the release of water from Ladgo Dam, the flow into some parts of the country as well as the Federal Government kick-starting work on the Dasin Hausa counterpart dam. A stitch in time will save many priceless lives.

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