RejiGArchives: Practical Flood Mitigation Strategies by the Government of Nigeria
By Francis Akenami
Since the 2012 and 2022 catastrophic floods in Nigeria, exacerbated by the overflow of Cameroon’s Lagdo Dam, the Nigerian government has taken several measures to mitigate future flood risks. Unfortunately, despite early efforts, including an agreement with Cameroon to build the Dasin Hausa Dam to act as a buffer, this vital dam remains incomplete decades later. The Dasin Hausa Dam was intended to protect regions downstream from the excess water released from the Lagdo Dam, which severely impacts states like Benue, Kogi, Adamawa, Delta, and including Isoko in the Niger Delta.
After the 2022 floods, which were among the worst in Nigeria’s recent history, the federal government ramped up its flood mitigation strategy. Key actions included increasing monitoring efforts by agencies such as the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA). NIHSA has implemented flood monitoring and warning systems, especially in states along the River Benue, where floods caused significant destruction in past years. The agency monitors river levels, releasing public warnings and advising residents to evacuate high-risk areas.
Despite these efforts, challenges remain. The federal government has focused on emergency response, providing relief materials through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and urging states to relocate affected populations. States were also advised to augment federal efforts by setting up functional flood shelters and sensitizing their communities to take flood warnings seriously.
While there have been some federal efforts to manage flooding, practical mitigation measures like river dredging and swamp clearing remain limited. Dredging of major rivers, including the Niger and Benue, has been recommended as a way to prevent flooding by improving water flow and reducing blockages. However, these projects have either been slow or insufficient to address the scale of the flooding. The lack of consistent maintenance, coupled with deforestation and urban expansion, has contributed to worsening flood conditions.
NIHSA and the Ministry of Water Resources have acknowledged the importance of river dredging but have primarily focused on emergency relief efforts, flood warnings, and urging states to improve their preparedness. The recurring overflow from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon, combined with heavy rains, continues to flood areas such as the Niger Delta, where swamps and rivers should ideally be better managed.
However, without a permanent solution like the completion of the Dasin Hausa Dam, experts argue that these measures are merely reactive rather than preventative. The Ministry of Water Resources continues to face criticism for not prioritizing the dam’s completion, which could have prevented much of the flooding seen in 2022. As a result, the federal government has been urged to revisit the Dasin Hausa project and develop a more robust flood management plan, particularly with ongoing rumors of recent water releases from the Lagdo Dam threatening further disasters.
In summary, although the government recognizes the need for dredging and other long-term solutions, much of the focus has been on short-term emergency responses rather than comprehensive river management
