The Managing Director of Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority, Dr. Deji Ashiru, has warned residents of Isheri, Ifo Local Government Area, to stop blaming Oyan Dam for their plight and instead appreciate his efforts to control the influx of water.

Ashiru said without the dam, Isheri and some communities in Abeokuta would not exist due to the high risk of flooding.

DAILY POST reports that the floods have driven residents of Isheri, Arepo, Lafenwa, Warewa and other neighboring areas along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway from their homes.

Environment Commissioner Ola Oresanya has urged residents in areas affected by the recent release of water from the Oyan Dam to move to higher ground.

Meanwhile, Ashiru, on Tuesday, during an engagement with residents of Isheri community, blamed the flooding on the presence of 52 tributaries without gates feeding the downstream section of the Ogun River, causing the levels to rise of water.

He clarified that the Oyan and Ogun rivers are transboundary, flowing from Port Novo in the Republic of Benin and that the rise in water levels is frequently caused by rainfall at Port Novo rather than water flowing from the Oyan Dam .

Ashiru said to control the inflow of water into the Oyan Dam and prevent its collapse, the agency has released about 17.4 million cubic meters of water every day for the past two months.

He said: “The reality is that without Oyan Dam, Isheri, located in a flood plain, and parts of Abeokuta would have been submerged.

“The people of Isheri should consider the Oyan Dam as a blessing rather than criticizing it. Without the dam that manages the flow, Isheri and some communities in Abeokuta would be at high risk.

“The Oyan Dam was built to control flooding and erosion. I have explained on several occasions that the 52 tributaries without gates downstream of the Oyan Dam are the main cause of the flooding we are experiencing in Isheri.

“Today, the saving grace they have in Isheri is the Oyan Dam because it is the only dam with gates that controls the flow of water upstream. The Oyan and Ogun rivers are transboundary and enter Nigeria from Port Novo. Even without rainfall in Nigeria, heavy rains in Port Novo cause water levels to rise.

“The dam controls this inflow, unlike the 52 tributaries which flow freely downstream. Without the Oyan Dam, Isheri might not exist as it does today, as the dam manages erosion and flooding upstream.

Ashiru proposed that to adequately manage the flooding problem, smaller dams may be needed to capture water from these tributaries.

The MD reaffirmed the commitment of the Federal Government, stressing that he had just received a letter from the Senate requesting a solution. He added that the Federal Government would begin dredging of the Ogun River next week as a temporary solution to increase its capacity to handle rising water levels.

Emmanuel Oluwayemi, a resident of the flooded area, responded by saying the government should expect legal action for failure to provide a conducive environment if the problem is not resolved.

Oluwayemi pointed out that after the floods subsided last year, he spent up to N8 million to renovate his house, which he bought from the government.