Bella Ifasola
Lagos – The Nigerian government has started dredging rivers along the Oyan dam corridor in Lagos and Ogun States to prevent a repeat of Maiduguri’s catastrophic flooding incidents, an official told local a news outlet.
Meanwhile, both Lagos and Ogun state governments have issued urgent warnings to residents living in flood-prone areas, especially along riverbanks, to temporarily relocate or prepare for potential flooding due to the planned release of water from the Oyan dam.
This annual process, managed by the Ogun-Oshun River Basin Development Authority, aims to manage dam levels during the rainy season.
However, last year’s water surge from the dam caused severe flooding in areas like Isheri Riverview estate, Warewa, and OPIC in Obafemi Owode Local government area.
To avoid a repeat of this devastating event, residents in low-lying areas are advised to take precautions, including relocating to safer ground. The water release could cause rivers to overflow, leading to severe flooding.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab urged residents to cooperate with the state government to mitigate the effects of flash flooding.
“Affected Areas Include: Alagbole, Meiran, Maidan, Kara, Isheri-Olowora, Agiliti, Owode-Onirin, Owode-Elede, Agboyi I, Agboyi II, Ajegunle, Itowolo, Majidun, Ibeshe, Baiyeku, Maidan, Lekki-Ajah axis, Wahab told The Punch newspaper.
“We have done the advocacy, we have told people to leave the low line areas. We are collaborating with the Ogun State government on how we can mitigate the impact of the release.
“Those staying on the low line areas have to leave, particularly those at Ajilete and other areas around Owode-Onirin because we saw what happened in Maiduguri, it will be child’s play.
“We will keep appealing to them to leave the low line areas, but if they refuse to leave, they have to bear the consequences.”
His Ogun State counterpart, Ola Oresanya said the dam was planning to increase the volume of water from over one million gallons to create more space in the reservoir.
But the management of OORBDA has allayed the fear of residents, assuring that the release of water from the dam will not lead to flooding incidents.
The Head of the Public Relations department of OORBDA, Saliu Adeniyi, ruled out the possibility of dam failure, saying the dam has been undergoing periodic maintenance.
“Definitely we will not have the Maiduguri issue happening here in Oyan dam because we have our project manager and other staff monitoring the status of the dam every day and due maintenance is being done at the dam, so such a thing will never occur here.
“If the rain increases we will also increase the volume of water being released, but it is not going to be that voluminous to create flood in downstream,” The Punch quoted Adeniyi as saying.