Sir: The rains are here again, which ordinarily should be a busy time for Nigerian farmers, who will be preparing for the planting season. It is also a pleasant break from the hot weather of February, March and April.

The rains, however, could turn into nightmare for people living along the plains of Rivers Benue and Niger in Nigeria, when massive waters, released periodically from Lagdo dam in Northern Cameroun, sweep away farmlands, livestocks, homes and drowned hundreds of people.

The Lagdo Dam was built in 1982 by the Chinese government, at the source of River Benue in Northern Cameroun, to provide electricity and water for the Northern provinces of the country. A bigger dam, downstream was to be built simultaneously in Nigeria, to withhold the excess waters, periodically released from the dam. This was to protect towns and villages downstream in Nigeria from being flooded.

The withholding dam in Nigeria was never built, thereby, exposing towns and villages in the country, to dangerous flash floods, especially during the rainy season.

The unprecedented floods of 2024, which swept away farmlands, livestocks and property, estimated at over $2 billion, is a grim reminder of this seasonal nightmare, which this administration must address, with utmost urgency.

While addressing the floods, it is equally important, to draw attention to Lake Chad, which, ironically needs abundance of water to survive. The Lake has lost over 90% of its waters, due to diversion of the feeder rivers in Chad Republic and Central Africa Republic.

The displacement of over 20 million farmers; fishermen, herders , traders and other citizens in Nigeria, Cameroun, Niger Republic and Chad Republic, created a humanitarian crisis, which has direct link to the aggravated state of insecurity in Northern Nigeria, and across the country.

The following recommendations are proposed to address these challenges:
The construction of the withholding dam on River Benue, should be given top priority by this administration, after 43 painful years.

The agreement of 1982 with the Chinese government, to build the Lagdo Dam and the withholding dam in Nigeria, should be reactivated for full implementation. It is better late, than never.

The construction of the dam, based on Build Operate and Transfer (BOT), arrangement with the Chinese government is possible. Oil for project should also be explored

The states littoral to Rivers Niger and Benue, viz: Adamawa, Benue, Taraba, Kogi, Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa states, could collectively build and own the buffer dam, for the economic benefits, and to protect their communities.

The replenishment of Lake Chad from the feeder Chari and Logone rivers in Chad and Central Africa, should be done through regional cooperation with the two countries.

The channeling of waters from River Congo in DRC, to replenish Lake Chad by a consortium of multi national companies, backed by the World Bank and African Development Bank (AfDB) is another viable option.

In conclusion, the construction of the withholding dam in Nigeria is of critical economic, social and security importance. It will bring relief to Nigerians, who have for decades been living in fear of flood waters from the Lagdo Dam.

This project had delayed for too long, and the time to do it is now.

• Ambassador Rasheed Akinkuolie was Director of Trade and Investment, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria and former Delegate to World Expo and Economic Development Centre in Paris