TITLE:
Assessing the Socio-Economic Impacts of the 2022 Cameroon Dam Water Releases on Nigeria through an Ecolinguistic Lens
AUTHORS:
Francisca Folake Adeuga, Taofik Olasunkami Adesanmi, Pelumi Benjamin
KEYWORDS:
Climate Change, Flooding, Communication Crisis, Ecolinguistics, Disaster Management
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Social Sciences,
Vol.13 No.10,
October
23,
2025
ABSTRACT: This study examines the impacts of flooding and the role of language and communication in managing climate-induced disasters, focusing on the 2022 floods along the Cameroon-Nigeria border. Climate change continues to drive crises such as floods, droughts, storms, and wildfires, with profound human and socio-economic consequences. A notable case is the flooding caused by the release of excess water from Cameroon’s Lagdo Dam, which resulted in widespread destruction across Nigerian states. Using an ecolinguistic framework, this research investigates the causes and socio-economic effects of the 2022 floods. It adopts an investigative and descriptive approach, drawing on government reports, scholarly publications, and media sources. Findings reveal extensive casualties, displacement, loss of infrastructure, food shortages, disease outbreaks, and economic decline in affected communities. Central to the analysis is the role of language in crisis communication. In a multilingual setting such as the Cameroon-Nigeria border, English, French, and indigenous languages are essential for the timely diffusion of lifesaving information, coordination of relief efforts, and promotion of interethnic cooperation. The study emphasizes that effective communication not only mitigates immediate risks but also strengthens long-term resilience. The paper concludes that both governments and the general public must adopt proactive strategies to prevent similar disasters. It recommends cross-border collaboration, improved early warning systems, and inclusive communication strategies that leverage local languages. These measures are critical for safeguarding lives and property in the face of climate change and for advancing sustainable socio-economic stability in West Africa.