Following a recent heavy rainfall, residents of flood-prone communities are facing another potential flood threat as the Ogun-Oshun River Basin Authority considers releasing more water from the Oyan River Dam.
Reports indicate that the dam management has informed certain stakeholders in these flood-prone communities about this upcoming action.
Abayomi Akinde, the chairman of the Riverview Estate in Isheri, expressed concerns on Tuesday, suggesting that this move could result in yet another flood crisis in the area.
In the past, communities like Isheri, Arepo, Lafenwa, Warewa, and others along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Ogun State experienced displacement due to excessive water release from the Oyan Dam. The dam, managed by the Ogun-Oshun River Basin Development Authority, is situated in the Abeokuta North Local Government Area of the state.
Residents residing in the low-lying areas of these communities were particularly affected, with floodwater infiltrating their homes and causing property damage. While some were able to salvage their belongings, others were less fortunate as their properties were submerged due to the increased water volume. Fortunately, the floodwater has subsided in recent days.
Akinde mentioned that ongoing efforts are being made to prevent another release of excessive water, aiming to avert another flood crisis.
He said, “I was alerted on Monday night by the dam management that there were plans to release another round of water. So, I had to go there this morning to have a discussion with them and the need to halt it and that has been considered.
“We have a stake more than the workers at the dam because they come and go. We have remained here over the years. That is why they decided to inform us of the development of the position of the dam on a daily basis for about a week now. The rain that fell overnight was much and they had to do some releases.”
Speaking on the current position of the water released from the dam, Akinde further said, “The gates of the dam have been reduced substantially. It will not be possible to close the dam at this time of the year. When the flood started, the gate was reduced to 48 per cent and that is a massive amount of water.
“Gradually, they reduced it by five per cent. So, because of the rainfall, they considered releasing it to probably eight or 10 per cent and of course which will bring more water downstream and the possibility of another round of flooding but that has been forestalled for now.”
He however noted that if another heavy rain falls again, the option of opening the dam beyond its current level might seriously be considered.
“There was a record of 53.10 millimetres of rainfall today and the water level had increased by 25 centimetres. The height available now is 1.16 metres. Assuming this is a period of peak rainfall, they definitely won’t consider the height of 1.16 metres because two days of heavy rainfall can completely overrun it,” he said.
