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.

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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.

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The rain according to the Nigeria Meteorological Agency, NIMET, and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, NIHSA, would commence from March and end in December, 2024 with an average rainy period of 239 days and an average precipitation of 1786.5mm, affecting sixteen out of the twenty local government areas of the state.

The state Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Ola Oresanya, who made this known during the year 2024 Ogun State Flood Alert in conjunction with the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority, OORBDA, held at the Olusegun Osoba Press Center, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, also said that local government areas such as Imeko-Afon, Odeda, Abeokuta North and Abeokuta South would experience the lowest rainfall.

The commissioner, while noting that people who are located in the hilly areas are going to experience erosion as a result of the speed of the water, called for calm as the state government was putting measures in place to cushion the effects of the expected heavy rainfall.

“It is either you relocate from the area or you elevate; may be you want to reconstruct your house or do some kind of elevation if you must stay in that area. Every year, we talk about relocation. It is not easy to relocate. If you must leave in those areas, make sure that your electronics, your chairs, whatever can be damaged is being elevated.

“When we talk about relocation and elevation, it is going to be predominantly around this area. People leaving within the wetland of the state are supposed to prepare for this increase in the height of the water because we are going to have a retention of this lockdown around this period.

“So, people who are located in the hill areas are going to have some kind of erosion because of the speed the water will take in running down around the Ilaro area and some areas in Ota. We are going to have what we call erosion that is going to accompany this kind of flooding for the year.

“The other areas that we will have the impact which is later on are people that are leaving within the wetland of the state and the wetland area are predominantly Southern parts of the state and these are almost flat land, low line land because this are the border towns between Lagos and Ogun State,” he said.

Oresanya also said that the state government was set to complement its various efforts at addressing the menace of flooding with the construction of 2,975.6m length of drainage channels and mini-bridges/culverts and the desilting and clearing of 56.150m length of river across the state.

“The state government wishes to complement its efforts in addressing the menace of flooding by the construction of 2,975.6m length of drainage channels and mini bridges/culverts, desilt and clear 56.159m length of river/stream courses and desilt 40,000m length of drainage channels across the three senatorial districts of the state.

“Some of the areas include construction of drainage channels and culverts at Wesley Primary School, Ijebu-Ode; reconstruction of dilapidated culvert at Saje Dumpsite road; Apakila (Abeokuta); Igbosoro (Ogijo, Sagamu), Imasai, desilting of rivers/stream courses at Yemile (Ijebu-Ode); Sensen river (Sagamu), Onibuku (Ota); Odo-funfun (Oja-Odan), Opa Aro (Isheri), Sokori river and tributaries while desilting of drainages channel will take place at Abeokuta, Ifo, Ijebu-Ode, Sagamu, Ilaro, Ota among others,” he said

The commissioner, who noted that the length of the raining season for the coastal areas ranged between 250 to 292 days while that of inland areas was between 200 to 250 days, encouraged farmers to start planting.

He urged fish farmers to harvest before the peak of the raining season in July and advised poultry farmers against stocking density during the period, which started two months back.

Oresanya also called on the people of the state to apply for ‘drainage permit’ before constructing their drainages.

This, he said, would ensure that drainages have the right elevation for the passage of water.

The drainage permit, he added, would guide residents against building on flood plains and wetlands unknowingly during the dry season.

In his remarks, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority (OORBDA; Engr. Olufemi Odumosu, said that OORBDA had been holistic while focusing on the structural measures for flood control.

According to him, Oyan Dam had been responsible for the supply of bulk water to Ogun and Lagos states, irrigation infrastructure for agriculture, flood control, hydro power generation potentials, researches and transportation as well as tourism which he said was yet to be fully tapped.

Odumosu mulled the need for a collaboration between OORBDA and the Ogun State government in the area of tourism, saying that the partnership would help to generate more revenue.

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The Commissioner of the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, gave the assurance at a news conference on Friday in Lagos.

Wahab also explained the preparedness of the Lagos state government to contain any eventuality that might come with the intensity of the flow of run off from upland states into Lagos due to the rainfall events since September 2023.

Wahab said the state government was capable of managing the consequences of the release of water by OORBDA.

According to him, there was no cause for alarm.

“From some of the statistics issued by the Ogun-Oshun River Basin Development Authority, the total amount of rainfall recorded from January to October 15 of 2023 indicates that most of the expected rainfall in the area has fallen.

“The volume of water released from January to October 15, 2023 which is more than the average synthesized Annual Flow Volume of 1,770 million cubic meters (mcms) against a gross storage of 2,274.0 mcm.

“First, for context on the severity of the issues, let me share with you the volumes of water flow through the Oyan Dam in the past few months.

“In July 2023, 418.9 mcms of water was released. In August, that figure rose to 545.0 mcms; September saw the release of 532.2 mcms and as of October 15, the flow has been averaging daily releases of 23.2 mcms totaling 2,274 mcm.

“This is in addition to 203.4 mm of rainfall in July, 174.9 mm in August, 362.6mm of rainfall in September and 170.8mm in October 2023 so far,” Wahab said.

The commissioner said as at Octobe 15, the peak of the expected rainfall in the month of October had already been experienced as the inflow from the upstream was reducing gradually.

“This will eventually abate all issues of flooding that may be experienced in the upstream.

“These are not numbers we take lightly and we acknowledge the impact they’ve had on our communities,” Wahab said.

The commissioner said the government had stepped up its multifaceted approach to mitigate the effects of the flooding in response to the development.

“We are committed to all-year-round drainage maintenance, reclaiming drainage Right of Way, ensuring that our waterways are kept clear and flowing efficiently.

“Additionally, we have undertaken a comprehensive dredging programme for our main river channels to enhance water flow and reduce the risk of flooding.

“Furthermore, we are working on improving our flood prediction and early warning systems to keep our citizens informed and safe.

“We have recognised the need for better collaboration with the management of Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority to manage the release of water from the dam more effectively.

“By fostering an improved relationship, we aim to strike a balance between the need for water management and the safety of our communities.

“This is in addition to similar collaborations we have with the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency to mention a few,” Wahab said.

He said that Lagos State, being low-lying, was at risk of coastal flooding.

He explained that the government was fully aware of the vulnerability of the state to flooding and was working diligently to adapt well to it.

“This includes plans for building resilient infrastructure and adopting sustainable land use practices.

“The flooding may stay for a while but will recede with time.

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“Let me at this juncture assure you all that our state continues to reap the gain of planning, as our flood control measures are already proving adequate and are also  being stepped up to contain any additional unforeseen weather conditions.

“Guided by core principles of providing a flood-free and hygienic environment in the state, this ministry is providing all-year-round drainage maintenance for effective and efficient flood control with diligent dredging of all primary channels and cleaning/de-silting of all secondary collectors, to enable them discharge efficiently and act as retention and/or detention basins.

“We are also collaborating on a continuous basis with the chairmen of all LGA’s/LCDAs and the tenements to complement our efforts by embarking on cleaning/de-silting of all tertiary drains in the state,” Wahab said.

He stressed that, in the interim, the emergency flood abatement gang under drainage maintenance department of the ministry is still at work consistently working on black spots and intervening on some critical tertiary drains to enable them discharge efficiently and act as retention basins.

He appealed to residents to report cases of drainage blockages, dumping of waste into canals and other unauthorised places to the resident engineers offices statewide.

“On a final note, I wish to appeal once again to our people to continue to support our efforts by complementing the state government through regular clearing of drains in their frontages.

“This will ensure free-flow of storm water and to desist from dumping of refuse into drainage channels and roads so that we can consolidate on the gains already made in the 2023 rainy season,” Wahab said.

Source: NAN

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