Cameroon has requested a comprehensive cross-border impact assessment of the Dasin Hausa dam project in Nigeria before giving its approval. This request was made during a meeting on May 25, 2026, in Yaoundé between Cameroon's Minister of Water and Energy, Gaston Eloundou Essomba, and a delegation from Mainstream Energy Solutions, the Nigerian operator in charge of the project.
The Dasin Hausa project is presented by Nigeria as a multipurpose dam, intended for hydroelectric power generation, flood control, agricultural irrigation, and socio-economic development of the surrounding areas. Nigeria also presents it as a means of regulating flooding downstream of the Benue River, often attributed to water releases from the Lagdo dam in Cameroon. Cameroonian authorities carry out controlled releases from Lagdo during the rainy season to manage the water level but dispute the idea that these releases are the sole cause of flooding in Nigeria.
Gaston Eloundou Essomba stressed that Cameroon will only be able to examine the Dasin Hausa project after receiving complete technical documentation. He insisted on the need for technical, environmental, and social studies to assess the dam's impacts on both sides of the border. Cameroon wishes to evaluate the potential hydrological, environmental, and socio-economic repercussions on its territory, particularly on watercourses, ecosystems, agricultural activities, and affected populations.
The Cameroonian minister advocated for close technical cooperation between Yaoundé and Abuja in the fields of water, energy, the environment, land management, and the protection of riverine populations. This cooperation is essential for effective cross-border water management, flood prevention, and the safety of communities living along the Benue River basin.
The Dasin Hausa dam project, initially planned in the 1980s to complement the Lagdo dam, has been delayed for more than 40 years. The current Nigerian government is working to accelerate its construction through a public-private partnership. Once completed, the dam is expected to mitigate flooding caused by water discharges from the Lagdo dam, generate more than 300 MW of electricity, and irrigate approximately 150,000 hectares of agricultural land in the states of Adamawa, Taraba, and Benue. The completion of the Dasin Hausa dam represents a long-term solution to the recurring flood crisis while stimulating economic development through improved water and energy management.
