Deborah Akinyosoye
The Ogun State Government has issued a fresh flood alert, its third this year, warning residents of riverbank and wetland communities to brace for possible flooding between October 20 and November 3.
In a statement on Sunday, the Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Ola Oresanya, said the likely overflow of the Ogun River would result from the controlled release of water from the Oyan Dam, following heavy rainfall in northern parts of the country that has raised water levels at the dam.
Oresanya explained that the situation could be worsened by rising tidal levels, urging residents in vulnerable areas to relocate or take precautionary measures.
“Residents are advised to exercise caution and avoid loss of lives and property as the overflow becomes inevitable. Those living close to the riverbank should stay away, while residents in wetland areas should move to higher ground or elevate their living conditions for now,” he said.
Communities listed as flood-prone include Akute, Alagbole, Isheri, Magboro, Makogi, Orimerunmu, Iro, Kajola, and parts of Abeokuta such as Lafenwa, Enugada, Adedotun, Iberekodo, Akin-Olugbade, and Ago-Odo.
The commissioner noted that the state government, in partnership with the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority, had continued to dredge and open tributaries to reduce the impact of flooding. He added that the dam’s water release has been carefully regulated throughout the year to prevent large-scale disasters.
Comparing this year’s data with last year’s, Oresanya said the Oyan Dam released 12,000 million litres of water per day in 2025, significantly lower than the 17,000 million litres per day recorded around the same period in 2024.
He attributed the improvement to the government’s “painstaking management of flood risks.”
Despite the measures, he acknowledged that natural forces still posed significant challenges.
“The state government’s mitigation measures cannot completely stop natural occurrences, especially as Ogun remains one of Nigeria’s coastal states feeling the full impact of climate change,” he said.
Oresanya assured that the situation was under control, expressing optimism that water levels would recede within ten days once the controlled release ended. He appealed for calm, vigilance, and cooperation from residents.
He also advised fish farmers in flood-prone zones to harvest their stock immediately to prevent losses, noting that Ogun’s geography as a natural outlet for water flow from the northern parts of Nigeria into the lagoon increases its flood vulnerability.