Journal of Geography  & Natural Disasters
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The Worst Natural Event and Disaster Preventive and Preparedness Measures in Northern Cameroon Regions and in Few Neighboring Nigerian Government States

Ahmadou Bouba*, Amougou Francois, Yerima

The paper describes the 2012’s flood disaster as the worst natural event occurred in Cameroon more than 60 years back. The paper also presents all the government projects or engagement for preparedness, preventive measures in view to reduce forthcoming flood calamity events in the country. The Far North and North regions being the most affected are the sites of observation. Though Cameroon experienced flood events since ninety’s, the 2012’s flood events was said to be the worst in the country. The estimated number of flood-displaced people reached 88,640 and affected 168 schools with 62,344 children in the both regions. In the neighboring country (Nigeria) the flood caused huge damages, out of the 36 states in Nigeria, 32 were affected with six states namely Taraba, Benue, Kogi, Anambra, Rivers and Bayelsa being the worst knock The sites of study are the North and Far North regions. Discussion, interviews and observation with the affected persons and areas carried out in 2012, 2013, and 2014 constituted the primary source of data. While the secondary data were obtained from the divisional and sub-divisional officers, traditional heads, the internet, international organizations officials and private journals, the radio and television heeding and viewing. The work’s result show that the main causes of the occurred tremendous events include, irregular and poor management of existing water infrastructures by the water personnel’s, the none respect of the government instruction for construction code (permitting buildings in the swamp areas, risky and on the national domain). Other factors such as climate change, deforestation with poor town planning contributed to worsen the negative flood effects. None exhaustive emergency funds received include 7,771,554 cfa from Cameroon, 299,707,000 cfa from DREF, 150,000 euro from Italy, 54 billiards cfa from Breton woods, from UNICEF and its partners 16,052,009.18 cfa. In order to protect the population and the irrigated rice areas along the river, dykes were constructed between 1950 and 1970 on both margins of the Logone River to control the floods of the river. The works continued until 1979 and were completed on the Cameroon side with the construction of the Maga Storage Dam and 20 km of dykes controlling the overflow of the dam. While with Nigerian government an agreement was signed in 1980 for construction of a buffer dam in Nigeria side to control the release of excess water, from Lagdo, unfortunately the said agreement was not respected by the Nigeria till date and no proper management of the Maga dam structure took place in Cameroon till the 2012’s calamity occurred. So Preparedness and preventive effort are put in place including, the World Bank $108 million for projects. Reports from the Cameroon and Nigeria concern that intend to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with respect to the River Benue basin. The only significant flood control structure in the River Benue basin is the Lagdo Dam. This dam has a substantial hydroelectric power potential of about 700 MW, has an installed capacity of 84 MW and only one turbine (21 MW) presently is in use. A bilateral meeting (Cameroon and Nigeria) at the electric power sector in Cameroon is planned to understand why the existing installed capacity at Lagdo Dam is under-utilized and why the overall potential for hydropower at Lagdo Dam is not considered to supply the sub-region in Central Africa for the future. For individuals, designed miscellaneous prerequisites for natural risk reduction are provided.