The Federal Government of Nigeria has called on downstream states of Lagdo Dam in Cameroon to activate flood control measures to avoid loss of lives and properties.
Chief Uche Nnaji, Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, gave the advice in Abuja on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, at a news conference on earth tremor in Mpape, FCT and flood risks in some states of the federation.
The minister recalled the opening of the Cameroonian Lagdo Dam, saying that the overflowing of the dam affected about 137 hectares of land between July 1 and 31.
“Between August and September, a sharp increase was observed, with the overflow affecting 2,053 hectares by the end of August and reaching staggering 18,737 hectares by mid-September.
“These satellite images indicate a significant and escalating flood risk, and we advise downstream states, including Kogi, Edo, Delta, Rivers, and Bayelsa, to activate all necessary flood control measures.
“We will continue monitoring activities across the country and provide regular updates.”
Nnaji said series of earth tremor occurred in Mpape area of the FCT on Sept.16, saying that the tremor would have occurred due to seismic activities, but Mpape area was located on a fault lines.
He stated that there were foreshocks and aftershocks of the tremor, with local magnitudes of 2.4 and 2.2, respectively.
“The foreshocks may have occurred as a result of gradual strain withdrawal, which led to the total strain failure that caused the main event.
“This also reinforces earlier assertions of the reactivation of faults within the locality.
“The government is currently processing and analysing comprehensive datasets from its Seismological and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) stations to provide relevant recommendations to the FCT Administration.
“We urge the residents of Mpape, and by extension the wider Abuja area, to remain calm and continue their normal activities,” minister said.
According to Nnaji, the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) is closely monitoring the situation and will soon implement measures to mitigate the seismic risks.
The Director-General of NASRDA, Dr Matthew Adepoju, said space science and technology had the capacity of providing the necessary information needed to addressing natural disaster.
Adepoju said that residents should not be panic, adding that the government was making efforts to mitigate serious consequences of such occurrence.
“When it happened in 2018, the Federal Government constituted a committee, and we got intervention from Federal Government to set up seismic and GNSS stations around the country.
“We are calling the attention of the public that we are monitoring because we have our equipment there and if the situation gets to an alarming rate, the government will not hesitate to do the needful.
“The government can evacuate people if need be but what we have in that axis has not gotten to that level at all,” he said.
He said that government had few seismic and GNSS stations across the country, hoping on more funding to cite more stations so as to develop early warning mechanisms.
He urged the FCT Administration to continue to reduce drilling and mining activities in Mpape area so as not to aggravate seismic activities along the fault lines because human activities have a way of impacting it.
By Ijeoma Olorunfemi
