By Paul Akalonu
The Lagos State government issued a warning yesterday to people, particularly those living on the banks of the Ogun River, to take precautions due to the projected high severity of flooding caused by heavy rainfall and the release of water from the Oyan dam.
Tunji Bello, the State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, stated that October is the peak period for flooding in regions next to the Ogun River.
According to the Nigerian Meteorological Agency’s (NIMet) early-year estimate of the Seasonal Rainfall Pattern, the peak of the year’s rebound rainfall would be in October.
According to him, the issue may be exacerbated by the Ogun Oshun River Basin Development Authority’s discharge of water from Oyan Dam, which has raised the level of water in the lagoon recently.
Bello went on to say that all specified places, such as Ketu, Alapere, Agric, Owode onirin, Ajegunle, Alagbole, Kara, Isheri olowora, Araromi Otun orisha community, Agiliti, Maidan, Mile 12, Odo ogun, Owode elede, Agboyi 1, Agboyi II, and Agboyi III, should be on high alert.
He also mentioned that the state is collaborating with the Ogun-Oshun River Basin Development Authority to ensure that water releases from the dam have the least amount of negative impact on communities.
The Commissioner added that the water release projection from the Ogun-Oshun River Basin, based on NIMet and Nigerian Hydrological Services (NIHSA’s early year projections), projects that it intends to maximize the created space in the reservoir and release at a controlled and average rate of 5-6 million cubic meters per day to allow other major and uncontrolled tributaries to River Ogun to discharge into the sea.
