The Lagos and Ogun state governments have issued warnings to residents in flood-prone areas, especially those living along riverbanks, as the Oyan Dam plans to release excess water in its annual process to manage dam levels during the rainy season.
Residents in low-lying areas, including Isheri Riverview estate and surrounding communities in Warewa and OPIC, Obafemi Owode Local Government Area, were affected by severe flooding last year following a similar water release. To prevent a repeat of the devastating flooding, both states have advised residents to relocate temporarily or brace for possible flooding.
Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, that the Federal Government has already begun dredging rivers along the dam’s corridor to mitigate the risk of flooding. He emphasized the need for precautionary measures, urging residents to vacate vulnerable areas such as Ajilete and Owode-Onirin.
“We have informed the public and are collaborating with Ogun State to reduce the impact of the release,” Wahab said. “Those in low-lying areas must move to safer ground. We’ve seen the devastation in Maiduguri, and we don’t want that repeated here.”
His Ogun State counterpart, Ola Oresanya, confirmed that the dam plans to increase the volume of water released from over one million gallons to create more space in the reservoir.
However, the Ogun-Oshun River Basin Development Authority (OORBDA) has sought to allay fears, assuring the public that the release will not result in flooding. OORBDA’s Head of Public Relations, Saliu Adeniyi, said the dam is undergoing regular maintenance to prevent any risk of failure.
“We are monitoring the dam closely and carrying out necessary maintenance,” Adeniyi told. “Even if the rain increases, the release will not be significant enough to cause flooding downstream.”
