(Ecofin Agency) - According to Abuja, the drainage of the Lagdo dam located in the north of Cameroon could force the Nigerian populations living next to the Benue river, the most important water body in Eastern and Central Nigeria, to move.

Furthermore, AFP indicates that, the government has issued an advisory to these populations to "be ready to evacuate" the sensitive zones while urging the local authorities and relevant organisations to take measures to relocate the affected communities.

For the Nigerian executive, this is essentially about avoiding the reoccurrence of the events of three years ago in which 12 persons died and some 12,000 other were displaced in the country.

The drainage of the dam and the heavy rains then recorded in the region had led to flooding in Cameroon that cost 14 lives.

Located next to the town of Garoua, the Lagdo dam which has been in operation since 1982 covers the energy supply for Northern Cameroon.