The Nigerian Society of Engineers has called for immediate construction of flood control dams along the Rivers Niger and Benue to avert flooding likely to be occasioned by the release of Lagdo dam in Cameroon.
According to The PUNCH, the President of NSE, Mr Tasiu Gidari-Wudil, disclosed this at a news conference in Abuja on Monday.
Recall that the Cameroonian authorities in a letter to the Nigerian government, said they would open the floodgate of Lagdo Dam on the River Benue in days ahead.
Gidari-Wudil said that the commencement of construction of the dam should be a priority while also calling for the dredging of major rivers to reduce siltation and sedimentation.
”Floods are among the most devastating natural disasters in the world, claiming lives and causing damage to properties and infrastructure.
”In Nigeria, flood affects and displaces more people than any other disaster every year.
“After the 2012 flooding incident, several committees were set up by governments at the federal level and the respective states affected by the flood.
”Also in November 2022, the Federal Government inaugurated a Presidential Committee on flood disasters. The mandate of the committees was to conduct research and develop comprehensive action plans for preventing flood disasters in Nigeria.
”As it stands today, the recommendations of studies conducted by the committees are yet to be fully implemented,” he said.
