The Lagos government on Thursday alerted residents and property owners at the Ogun River Banks to be ready to relocate to higher grounds as the authorities of Ogun Osun River Basin development authorities commences staggered release of water from Oyan Dam.
Addressing the media during a briefing at Alausa, Ikeja, the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, said Lagosians needed to be alerted on the commencement of release of water to maintain the sanctity of the dam and its socio-economic implications for Lagos State.
He said it was crucial to understand that the dam’s annual operations were informed by real-time hydrological data, rainfall predictions from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NIMET, and flood outlooks from the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, NIHSA, saying the sources guided the water release decisions to ensure both flood control and the integrity of the dam.
He said the state government and the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority, OORBDA, acknowledge the concerns raised regarding the release of water from the dam and its impact on surrounding communities, particularly those along the Ogun River water channels extending into Lagos State.
He said from its released guidelines, OORBDA operates the Dam in strict compliance with safety protocols to prevent structural damage and mitigate flood risks.
He added that a detailed operational report by OORBDA states that the total water released from the dam in the year, as of 12th October 2024, stood at 1,484.2 million cubic meters (mcm), which remained below the average synthesized annual flow volume of 1,770 mcm.
He stressed that although rainfalls across the Oyan River catchment area had been significant, with a cumulative 984.1 mm recorded this year, saying it remained lower than last year’s 1,540.8 mm and was within safe operational levels.
He explained that the dam was equipped with four radial gates capable of releasing up to 2,271 cubic meters per second (m³/s) during peak periods and the current releases were measured at 208 m³/s, with only two gates opened at 12% capacity each, ensuring controlled and steady discharge.
Wahab added that 62.1% of the dam’s flood control capacity remained intact with the Dam not under any imminent threat of releasing excess water beyond safe limits saying that had been made possible through the collaboration of the state with OORBDA.
He said the state government fully recognized the challenge faced by residents in affected communities which include Kara, Mile 12, Agiliti, Ikosi Ketu, Owode, Ajegunle, and Odo-Ogun as reported.
“However, I want to emphasize that while the flooding experienced in these areas has often been attributed solely to water released from the Oyan Dam, this is not entirely the case; in reality, the downstream section of the Ogun River is influenced by a complex network of over 52 tributaries, all of which converge and contribute to rising water levels in the affected areas,” he said.
He said the tributaries, combined with rain-induced runoff, significantly exacerbated the flood situation adding that that was a critical point to consider when addressing flood management strategies for the region.
He stated that in an effort to reduce the flood risks and ensure the free flow of water within the Ogun River system, Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority, OORBDA, recently flagged off the dredging of the Ogun River downstream from the Ikorodu to Isheri axis (Ajelogo, Owode-Elede, Ajegunle, and under deck-on-pile of Itowolo Bridge) for the water released on Friday, 13th September 2024.
He stressed that some right-of-ways along the catchment areas were protected and restored, saying that the dredging project was a proactive measure to deepen the river channel and increase its capacity to convey water, thereby reducing the likelihood of flooding during periods of high inflow.
The commissioner said to effectively contain flooding the government is determined to maintain the long-established synergy and partnership with Ogun-Oshun River Basin Development Authority which has ensured control and monitoring of the steady and systematic release of water from Oyan Dam to prevent flooding of the downstream communities.
He said the state government would continue to monitor the situation closely and collaborate with relevant agencies and affected communities, to address humanitarian concerns, particularly for vulnerable groups like women, children, the elderly, and people living with disabilities.
READ ALSO: How Justice Emmanuel Ayoola Changed My World, By Folu Olamiti
Wahab also informed that the Emergency Flood Abatement Gang under Drainage Maintenance Department of the Ministry had been consistently de-silting and working on secondary collectors and conduits, to enable them discharge efficiently and act as retention basins as part of statewide measures to prevent flooding.
He appealed to Lagosians to desist from indiscriminate dumping of refuse in unauthorized places, throwing pet bottles on the roads, clogging of drains with silt or construction materials, erecting building structures within and around drainage Right of Ways/setbacks, stop discharging human waste into drains/canals which encourages high siltation and vegetal growth that easily clogs the canals as these act impedes the free flow of water.
He urged Lagosians to report cases of drainage blockages, dumping of waste into canals and other unauthorized places to Resident Engineers offices statewide saying Drainage Engineers with their telephone numbers would be made available in all our 57 Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas to attend to all your needs.
His words: “I wish to appeal once again to our people to support our efforts by complementing the state government through regular clearing of drains in their frontages to ensure free-flow of storm water as well as to desist from dumping of refuse into drainage channels and roads.”
Present at the media briefing was the Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services, Dr. Omobolaji Gaji and Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Services Engr. Mahamood Adegbite, as well as directors in the ministry.
