The Managing Director/CEO of the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority, Dr. Adedeji Ashiru, announced on Wednesday that the Federal Government has finalized plans to construct seven dams across the six southwestern states to boost irrigation and food production.
The dams, set to be built as part of President Bola Tinubu’s agricultural agenda, will facilitate all-year-round farming and enhance food security. Ashiru revealed that the contracts for the dams are expected to be awarded between now and Friday.
Each of the seven dam sites will feature 12 greenhouses, open fields for farming, and storage facilities for harvested produce. The initiative is part of the government’s broader efforts to address food security and flooding challenges in the region.
Ashiru also discussed ongoing efforts to concession the hydropower generation component of the Oyan Dam to increase the country’s electricity supply. The Oyan Dam, which was built in 1979 with three turbines capable of generating nine megawatts of electricity, has been largely underutilized. However, efforts are underway to maximize its power generation potential, with plans for the concession expected to be completed by 2025.
Speaking at the 46th Annual Conference of the Association for Consulting Engineering in Nigeria (ACEN) in Lagos, Ashiru emphasized the importance of dams in controlling flooding and mitigating ecological challenges. He credited the foresight behind the Oyan Dam for preventing significant flooding in communities such as Abeokuta and Isheri.
Ashiru also called on engineers to integrate green technologies into their designs, highlighting the role of engineering in combating the impacts of climate change. He urged for stronger environmental regulations and better collaboration with stakeholders to achieve resilient cities.
Earlier, ACEN President Kem-Selem Bukar pointed to climate-related challenges, including flooding, as key drivers for this year’s conference theme, Sustainable Development: Building Resilient Cities. He also noted recent regulatory advancements aimed at curbing building collapses, with over 10 new regulations developed by the Council for Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) to address issues of quackery and substandard engineering practices.
