Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority Absolves Self From Isheri Flooding

The Management of Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority, OORBDA, has reaffirmed that the release of water from its Oyan Dam facility was not the cause of the perennial flooding affecting communities in Isheri area of the borderline between Ogun and Lagos States.

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, OORBDA, Dr Deji Ashiru stated this while speaking at a town hall meeting held with property owners at the area, under the aegis of Lagos /Ogun River Basin Communities Association.

Dr Ashiru who disclosed that 17.4 million litres of water was being released gradually on daily basis at the dam, said the authority was giving priority to the welfare of residents, pointing out that the entire community would have been swept away if the water flow from Oyan Dam had not been gated appropriately.

Dr Ashiru who said 52 ungated tributaries to the Ogun River could be fuelling the rising water levels also announced plans by the Authority to access ecological funds for the construction of another dam, downstream of the Oyan River, alongside the efforts to dredge the Oyan and Ogun rivers with a view to addressing the challenge of flooding.

Responding, the Chairman, Lagos /Ogun River Basin Communities Association, Mr Olarewaju Falade applauded the Dam Basin Development Authority’s commitment to addressing the menace which had displaced some property owners from the community.

Mr Falade who implored the stakeholders to bridge the communication gap between the OORBDA management and the residents, said the statistics on daily release of water from the Oyan Dam would help in dousing the fears that the process was responsible for incessant flooding in the affected areas.