Nigeria moves to end Cameroon’s Lagdo dam flooding

In a renewed effort to mitigate the devastating effects of flooding caused by the periodic release of water from Cameroon’s Lagdo, the Federal Government on Nigeria has announced plans to construct the Datsin Hausa Dam in Adamawa State.

The announcement was made by the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, during the 2025 Ministerial Press Briefing.

He explained that the project was part of the government’s broader strategy to address perennial flooding and enhance water and infrastructure across the country.

“We are carrying out the study and design of several dams in Nigeria, among which I want to specifically mention the Datsin Hausa Dam in Adamawa. We are very, very concerned about the dam because there are releases from another dam that comes in, and when this water comes, it affects the entire country,” the Minister stated.

According to him, the design and feasibility study of the Datsin Hausa Dam has already been completed, and the government is now in the process of procuring a transaction advisor to facilitate the construction phase.

Speaking further, Prof. Utsev noted, “When this is reconstructed, it will act as a buffer dam to the Lagdo Dam that will curtail the water that comes out of the Lagdo Dam. This water, we intend that it will be used for irrigation because we have a mass of land over there that we can use this dam to irrigate our country.

“We are also going to use this dam for water supply in addition to the hydropower development that we are going to put in place to provide additional hydropower source for our national needs.”

The Datsin Hausa Dam, once completed, is expected to serve multiple purposes including irrigation, domestic water supply, and electricity generation through hydropower, thereby contributing significantly to national development and resilience against flooding.

The Minister also disclosed that the Federal Government has also approved funds for the reconstruction of the Alau Dam in Borno State.

The dam had previously suffered damage, resulting in the loss of lives and property.

While the reconstruction aims to restore its full functionality and prevent future disasters, the development signals the government’s commitment to proactive flood control measures and infrastructure enhancement, especially in flood-prone regions.