How many more deaths and flooding disasters would it take for the Federal Government of Nigeria to act? Why has it taken more than 40 years for a buffer dam to be built at Dasin Hausa despite the disastrous effect of excess water release from the Lagdo dam in Cameroon?

Every year Nigerians die. If not as a result of insecurity, it will be hunger and disease. The hope to see another day in Nigeria is closer to zero than one on a scale of 0 – 1. Somehow, an average Nigerian has adjusted to the reality that anyone might be the next victim so left to fate. It is no longer a story that life is no longer safe due to the aforementioned reasons, but the new story in town is that, if you escaped being killed by hunger, disease or terrorism, you will be killed by flood in the very comfort of your home. The perennial flood and its devastating effects have left many wondering if Nigeria isn’t part of hell.

The destructive flooding witnessed since 2012 has been attributed to heavy downpours and the release of water from the Lagdo dam in Cameroon. The 2012 floods claimed hundreds of lives and rendered millions homeless. According to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) reports, the 2012 floods, which started in July killed 363 people and displaced over 2.1 million Nigerians. It is now a trend for communities along River Niger and River Benue to include flooding to their annual look heads. 

After the commissioning of the Lagdo Dam project in Cameroon in 1982, its government signed an agreement with the Nigerian government for a buffer Dam to be built downstream of the River Benue at Dasin Hausa Village for the purpose of containing overflows. In 1980 a Brazilian company signed a contract to build the dam and that was all Nigerians ever heard of it. Government after government has paid no attention to that project. Hon. Igariwey Iduma, then, the Member representing Afikpo North/Afikpo South federal constituency in Ebonyi state moved a motion on the need to complete the building of the Dasin Dam in Dasin village in Fufore Local Government Adamawa state.

In 2015, the Yakubu Dogara-led House of Representatives in November 2015 deliberated on the need for Nigeria to continue the construction of the abandoned Dasin Hausa Dam to prevent avoidable deaths from flooding. They acknowledged the fact that heavy rainfall is not solely responsible for recurring flooding in Nigeria. They understand that anytime the Lagdo dam authorities in Cameroon released excess water from the dam, it submerges communities in Nigeria. Yet, this flood mitigating project. 

The question that has never gotten an answer is, Is the Federal Government of Nigeria benefitting in whatsoever way when Nigerians die and properties including food crops are destroyed by this flood? Due to the incessant flooding of several states such as Taraba, Benue, Kogi, Cross-Rivers, Delta, Anambra, Rivers and Bayelsa State etc, by flood and the constant spillage of Nyos Dam in Southwestern Cameroon, the Goodluck Jonathan’s administration conceived and built a 500million Cubic meters buffer Dam in Kashimbilla to contain flood on the event of the anticipated collapse of the Nyos Dam in Cameroon. The Buhari Government has now commissioned the Station, and today, not only that the affected flooded states are safe, but also 40 MW of electricity is generated from the dam and the water supply/Irrigation system is rightly in place in that location.

We must stop this flood now and build the dam at Dasin Hausa Village. As a matter of national security of the lives and properties of Nigerians, let’s sign this petition to compel the Federal Government to review that project, fund it and 'return to site' as a matter of national emergency.