As the rainy season returns, it should mark a productive period for Nigerian farmers preparing their fields. It also brings a welcome end to the scorching heat of the previous months. However, for communities along the Benue and Niger river plains, the rains often signal the beginning of a perilous period.
Floodwaters released from the Lagdo Dam in Northern Cameroon frequently surge into Nigeria, destroying farmlands, livestock, homes, and claiming lives. Built in 1982, the Lagdo Dam was designed to provide electricity and water for Cameroon’s northern regions. A corresponding dam was planned in Nigeria to control overflow, but it was never constructed, leaving many communities vulnerable.
The devastating floods of 2024 caused over $2 billion in losses and served as a painful reminder of the consequences of inaction. The Nigerian government must urgently prioritize the construction of this critical dam to protect lives and livelihoods.
In addition to flood control, attention must also be given to Lake Chad, which has lost over 90% of its volume due to water diversion in neighboring countries. This ecological decline has displaced millions of people across Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger, and Chad, contributing to regional instability and insecurity.
To address these urgent issues, the following steps are recommended:
1. Immediate construction of the long-delayed buffer dam on River Benue.
2. Revival of the 1982 bilateral agreement with China to complete both the Lagdo Dam and its Nigerian counterpart.
3. Adoption of a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model, potentially funded through oil-backed agreements.
4. Collaboration among affected Nigerian states—such as Adamawa, Benue, Taraba, Kogi, Rivers, Delta, and Bayelsa—to co-own and maintain the dam for shared economic and environmental protection.
5. Regional cooperation to replenish Lake Chad, using waters from the Chari and Logone rivers.
6. Exploration of a large-scale project to channel water from the Congo River, supported by multinational corporations and development banks.
The construction of the dam in Nigeria is not just an infrastructure project—it is an economic, social, and security imperative. For decades, communities have lived in fear of the annual floodwaters. This long-overdue project must no longer be delayed.
Ambassador Rasheed Akinkuolie is a former Director of Trade and Investment at Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was a Delegate to the World Expo and Economic Development Centre in Paris.