The image of the river water level on a marker which was shared with journalists by NEMA indicated that the water had risen to an “emergency level,” meaning there is a high tendency of flooding incidents in the area.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Thursday advised residents of Makurdi, Benue State capital to relocate to higher grounds over the rising level of River Benue.
The image of the river water level on a marker which was shared with journalists by NEMA indicated that the water had risen to an “emergency level,” meaning there is a high tendency of flooding incidents in the area.
As a result, Ibrahim Farinloye, NEMA Lagos territorial coordinator advised the dwellers of communities within the River Benue environment to move to a safer location to avoid loss of lives and property.
“Caution and movement to safer grounds advised, please. Makurdi residents are hereby advised to relocate to higher grounds,” he said.
NEMA had earlier said that the water level of River Benue was still below the emergency level.
“The close shot shows the level is still under emergency level,” Ibrahim Farinloye told journalists on August 29, 2023.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for East and Central African Division had alerted NEMA to an impending flooding along the River Benue basin.
The ministry noted that it had received a notice from the High Commission of the Republic of Cameroon informing that the country's officials would open the floodgates of the Lagdo Dam into the Benue River in the days ahead.
The letter titled 'Cameroonian Officials To Open The Flood Gates Of The Lagdo Dam On The Benue River In Cameroon,' from the Nigerian foreign affairs ministry and addressed to the Director General of the NEMA was dated August 21, 2023, and received by NEMA on August 25, 2023.