Federal Government Absolves Oyan Dam from Flooding in Parts of Ogun

Federal Government has absolved the excess water being discharged from the Oyan Dam into Ogun River, in Abeokuta, as the major cause of the massive flooding in Ogun State.

Instead, it blamed buildings erected on the flood plain on waterways and indiscriminate dumping of refuse for the flooding in Ogun and Lagos States.

Water and Sanitation Minister, Joseph Utsev, stated this, while speaking to newsmen in Abeokuta, on the sideline of his inspection visit to the Oyan Dam in Abeokuta being operated by the Ogun-Osun River Basin authority.

According to the Minister, Oyan Dam which was created by federal government to control flood in its catchment area could not be blamed for the flooding of Ogun and Lagos States.

Utsev said the discharging of excess water from the dam into Ogun River has been following due process, and could not be blamed for the flooding in the state.

The minister said he would meet with Governor Abiodun on the need to remove buildings blocking waterways, and to sanction those dumping refuse on the waterways in the state.

The recent massive rainfall has caused massive flooding in the Isheri, Akute communities in the state’s boundary with Lagos State, as well as parts of Abeokuta.

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Residents of the flooded areas had blamed excess water being discharged by Oyan Dam into the Ogun River as the main source of the flood.

While speaking during a meeting with Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun in his office, the minister enjoined the state government to key into the “Clean Environment” programme of his ministry.

“The programme provides for eradication and zero tolerance for open defecation. Our ministry will readily partner with Ogun towards achieving that,” he said.

In his remarks, Abiodun solicited the Federal Government’s intervention in bringing succour to the communities affected by flooding in the state.

The governor emphasised that the state lacked the professional expertise and the financial muscle to tackle flooding.

Abiodun asked the minister to prevail on the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority management to ensure the agency’s activities do not constitute a danger to the lives of Ogun residents.

“The state is ready to cooperate with the ministry on whatever measure it is planning that will make the Federal Government achieve its goal of eradicating open defecation in the state, particularly when it is a matter that concerns the health of the citizens,” he said.