Ogun to take over 9 Megawatts hydro power plant of Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority- Abiodun

CITIZENS COMPASS– Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has disclosed that the state government is considering generating electricity from the 9 Megawatts hydro power plant, located within the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority.

The governor, who stated this during an on-the-spot assessment of facilities at the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority on Friday, said that his administration is already in alliance with the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) on the modalities for the takeover.

He said that taking over the hydro power plant will boost his administration’s plan to improve power supply across the state, as it would be merged with the 30 Megawatts power plant in Onijanganjangan, which, being gas-fired, would ensure that the state has the right energy mix.

Governor Abiodun stated that the abandoned dam and hydro power plant, commissioned in 1983, represents stranded renewable energy that his administration intends to take advantage of.

The Governor described the idea behind the establishment of the dam as noble, as it was meant to manage water outflow from neighbouring countries, local water tributaries, irrigation, power generation, and farming, among others.

“From the information we have, one of the three turbines was commissioned, but the other two were not commissioned because they were not fully installed.

“We have been engaging with the Bureau of Public Enterprises, and there is an alliance between our government and the Bureau to take over this hydro power plant and merge it with our gas-fired plant so that we have the right energy mix.

“And that is another reason why we are here: to see what we can do to ensure that the stranded or idle power plants are fully optimized.

“I am sure that in the next few weeks, engineers will be here to ascertain the integrity and how we can resuscitate this plant for the use and benefit of our sons and daughters of Ogun State under our Ogun State Light Up Project. I mentioned earlier that we are going to have power plants in Abeokuta, Ijebu, Remo, and Yewa to ensure that we have enough power supply,” he said.

The Governor also spoke on the need to turn the land around the River Basin into farm clusters to take advantage of the presence of water and irrigation for all-year farming seasons, in line with the Renewed Hope Food Initiative of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

According to him, the vast land around the River Basin axis is also suitable for cattle farming, as cattle require water.

“We’ve seen that we can further utilize the potential that the dam offers. We will ensure that we look at the ownership of farmlands around here, ensure that there is proper acquisition of those farms, and ensure that those farms are properly farmed, particularly under the Renewed Hope Food Initiative, to ensure we grow what we eat and eat what we grow,” he added.

He applauded the forebears of the country for conceiving the project, stating, “This project is laudable, but just like many federal government ideas and projects, most times, you find them not sustained and not fully optimized, and this is no exception.”

The Governor also noted that the Managing Director of the River Basin has debunked the rumors that it is the water from the dam that causes the perennial flooding in Isheri, adding that his administration would look into the claims of the Managing Director that the flooding is a result of water from other sources.

Flood alert 

The state government has issued a flood alert to residents of the State to be vigilant and careful of their environment as one of the major flood prone areas in Nigeria, according to classification made available by the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET) and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA).

The Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, who stated this at a news conference yesterday, in Abeokuta, said the flood alert was part of the Ministry ‘s adaptation and mitigation strategies to enlighten the citizens of the State of the vulnerability of various settlements and communities around the State.

He said the Ministry, yearly, must issue flood alerts to residents towards raising their consciousness about flood and its adverse impacts on the environment and socio-economic life of the people.

He said: “As part of our adaptation and mitigation strategies, an annual flood alert is issued by the Ministry of Environment to inform and enlighten the citizens of the extent of vulnerability of various settlements and communities in the State. This we have continued to do in the last four years with positive impact.

“This year, NIMET in its predictions highlights the likelihood of heavy downpour with intensity ranging from 965mm to 1805mm which raises concern for communities nationwide that are already vulnerable to flooding and its possible impact. The rainfall predictions for Ogun State commenced early this month, March while Little Dry Spell (LDS) is expected in the state from the 21st of July, and it will last between 27 to 40 days.

“In addition, the NIMET predictions shows that in April – June, there is likely to be Severe Dry Spell above 15 days after the establishment of rainfall. The prediction also identified 16 local government areas as flood prone zones.

“To mitigate impact of the seasons of flood in the State, the State government in the last five years have de-silted 988.3km of rivers/streams, and drainage channels; constructed 698m in length of concrete drainages and culverts of various cross-sections. Presently, de-silting of rivers/streams and drainage channels, construction of drainages and culverts are ongoing in various parts of the State to further reiterate the State Government’s determination to reduce the impact of flood in the State. The execution of the projects will commence in April, and this cuts across three senatorial districts of the State.”

He added that in the bid to further mitigate flooding in wetland areas of Isheri, Akute and Warewa, the state government has concluded plans to create more tributaries for Ogun Rivers and complete the.dredging of Opa Aro River, saying the project had been billed to commence in April in phases, and with the desilting of the Banku River to Majidun and Mawarere.

The commissioner explained that already, the retention for flood in the area has reduces from annual average of six weeks to three weeks in 2024, being the positive outcome of approval given by Governor Dapo Abiodun for the dredging of Oparo Rivers as a proof of concept for mitigation of adverse impact of flooding in Isheri community.

“In continuation of the efforts of the government to minimize occurrence of flood in the State, residents of Ijebu-Ode, Ota, Owode, Abeokuta, Onihale in Ifo, Sagamu, Iperu and Ilishan are advised to be wary of flash flood expected between March and July.

“Meanwhile, those living on floodplains of Isheri, Akute, Warewa, Oke-Afa, Owa and Yemule River banks in Ijebu-Ode, Ifaara, Ebute-Oni, Ayede-Ayila, Makun, Iwopin and Igele in Ogun Waterside, Ebute-Imobi in Ijebu East, Sokori, Arakanga and Onikoko River all in Abeokuta, Eruwuru, Eri, Ibu, Majopa, Odan and Sensen in Sagamu, and Ijamido, Ilo, Erukomu, Isakale, in Ado Odo/Ota Local Government Area among others are advised to relocate to safer grounds before the coastal flood between September and November.

“Also, motorists, bike-riders and other road users are advised not to enter or cross flooded roads during rainfall. Community Development Associations (CDAs) are enjoined to educate their residents not to dump refuse on drainage channels and rivers/streams, build on run-off routes or engage in other environmental hazardous activities as the State government will not shy from applying maximum consequences for such inordinate behavior.

“Farmers in the State are advised to follow the rainfall prediction pattern and plan the planting scheme in line with the weather forecast to prevent damage to their crops and livestock,” he added.

The Commissioner, therefore, enjoined all the twenty Local Government Chairmen

to domesticate the NIMET weather prediction for their various CDAs and community stakeholders in local languages for proper planning towards the rainy season.

He stressed that the State Emergency Management Authority, SEMA has assured the residents of the State of it’s readiness to perform its statutory roles optimally in case of emergency evacuation to designated IDP camps located strategically around the State.

He further hinted that the Ministry of Environment would collaborate with the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority OORBDA to monitor the periodic release of water from Oyan Dam especially during the peak of rainy season for the purpose of mitigating the impact of the overflow of Ogun River on the vulnerable wet land communities.

“In conclusion, let me assure visitors and residents that the Ogun State government is committed to maximize the benefits of the 2025 rainy season for food production and to support the National aspiration on food security. I therefore enjoin all stakeholders to sign-up to a joint action to enable Ogun State to prevail during this rainy season. Rainy season is not a curse, but a blessing. We should therefore be prepared to benefit maximally from this gift of nature,” Oresanya said.