The Lagos and Ogun state governments have issued warnings to residents in flood-prone areas, particularly those living along riverbanks, to temporarily relocate or prepare for potential flooding as the Oyan dam prepares for its annual release of excess water.
The dam, managed by the Ogun-Oshun River Basin Development Authority (OORBDA), undergoes this release each rainy season to control water levels.
Last year, flooding caused by the release of excess water from the dam displaced residents in areas such as Isheri Riverview Estate, Warewa, and OPIC in the Obafemi Owode Local Government Area. To prevent a repeat of the disaster, both state governments have urged communities in low-lying areas to take precautions, including relocating to safer ground, as the water release may cause rivers to overflow and result in severe flooding.
Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, confirmed that the Federal Government has started dredging rivers along the dam corridor to reduce the risk of flooding. Wahab emphasized the need for residents in affected areas, especially Ajilete and Owode-Onirin, to leave their homes, warning that failure to do so could have serious consequences.
“We have conducted advocacy and informed residents to leave low-lying areas. We are working with the Ogun State government to mitigate the impact of the water release. However, if people refuse to relocate, they will have to bear the consequences,” Wahab told newsmen
Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, stated that the volume of water being released from the dam is set to increase, with over one million gallons being released to create more space in the reservoir.
Meanwhile, the management of OORBDA has sought to allay fears of flooding. Saliu Adeniyi, Head of Public Relations at OORBDA, assured residents that the release of water will not lead to significant flooding, citing ongoing maintenance of the dam and daily monitoring by staff. Adeniyi ruled out the possibility of dam failure, adding that while water releases may increase if rainfall intensifies, the volume will not be large enough to cause downstream flooding.
