The water level on the River Benue system in Lokoja, Kogi State also dropped overnight, NEMA said on Thursday.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Yola Operations Office, and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) on Thursday said their team had conducted an assessment tour of the Bakin Kogi River in Jimeta, Adamawa State and found that the water level did not pose any threat.
The water level on the River Benue system in Lokoja, Kogi State also dropped overnight, NEMA said on Thursday.
SaharaReporters on Monday reported that Kogi, Nasarawa, and some other Nigerian states had been identified as the first point of contact should the volume of water from downstream River Benue increase due to the planned opening of the dam.
The authorities in Cameroon had alerted the Nigerian government that they would open the dam to release water, which would have put some Nigerian states at risk of being flooded.
On Monday, the Yola Operations Office Coordinator of NEMA, Ladan Ayuba gave SaharaReporters a list of the states likely to be affected as Benue, Nasarawa, Kogi, Edo, Enugu, Anambra, Delta, Rivers and Bayelsa.
He explained that there would be a gradual release in days ahead due to heavy rainfall in Cameroon.
He, however, added that the water had yet to be released.
However, Director-General of NIHSA, Clement Nze, allayed the fears of Nigerians by telling journalists in Abuja that the release of water from the facility was stopped by 11 a.m. on Monday, August 28, 2023.
There had been fear that many states could be flooded leading to loss of lives and property. In 2022, over 600 Nigerians died while over one million others were displaced by flood.
However, in a statement issued on Wednesday, NEMA said a team led by Mr Ladan Ayuba along with representatives from the Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency, have conducted an assessment tour of the Bakin Kogi River in Jimeta.
The statement reads in part, "Sequel to the memo on the possible release of water from Lagdo Dam in the Cameroon Republic informing Nigeria government to be on alert, a team of officers from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Yola Operations Office, led by Mr Ladan Ayuba along with representatives from Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency conducted an assessment tour to the Bakin Kogi River in Jimeta.
"The aim of the tour was to monitor and assess the water level in preparation for potential flooding in Adamawa State. Finding of the assessment reveals the water level is at 8.0 meters as of 10.00 am on the 30th August 2023.
"The team thereafter proceeded to the Marine Unit of Nigeria Police Force to inform them of the situation on the ground and also seek collaboration and support in responding to flood emergency within the state.”
"The Unit Commander of the Marine appreciated the team and assured the team of all necessary support that will be required to facilitate a smooth response to any flood emergency that may arise. The Unit Commander took the team round to inspect the Police Marine boats and other equipment," the statement added.
Acting Coordinator of the Lagos Territorial Office of NEMA, Ibrahim Farinloye told SaharaReporters that at 8m, “the water level does not pose any threat”.
The situation in Lokoja is different. The water level there is higher because the water there is a result of the convergence of rainwater from all parts of the northern and central states of Nigeria.
“But as for Bakin Kogi community, the first community to be touched by the released water from Lagdo Dam, there is still no threat,” he said.