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The Ogun State Government has issued a new flood alert — the third in 2025 — warning residents living along riverbanks and flood-prone zones to brace for possible overflow from the Ogun River between October 20 and November 3.
In a statement released on Monday, the Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, said the alert follows the controlled release of water from the Oyan Dam due to heavy rainfall from northern Nigeria, which has significantly increased the volume of water flowing into the dam.
Oresanya listed Akute, Alagbole, Isheri, Magboro, Makogi, Orimerunmu, Iro, Kajola, and parts of Abeokuta—including Lafenwa, Enugada, Adedotun, Iberekodo, Akin-Olugbade, and Ago-Odo—as high-risk areas expected to experience flooding.
“The overflow from Ogun River will rise as a result of controlled release of water from Oyan Dam due to heavy rainfall from up north,” Oresanya explained.
He urged residents in the affected areas to relocate to safer grounds, exercise caution, and safeguard their belongings from water damage. He also advised those living close to riverbanks and wetlands to avoid the danger zones and, if necessary, move temporarily to higher areas until water levels subside.
The commissioner noted that the government has been taking proactive steps to minimize the impact of flooding, including dredging and opening additional tributaries of the Ogun River to improve water flow.
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“The state government had continuously dredged and opened more tributaries in Ogun River to ease the pressure of the overflow on residents in collaboration with the Ogun Osun River Basin Authority—owners of Oyan Dam—who have continually ensured a controlled release of water from the dam throughout the year,” he said.
Comparing the situation to last year, Oresanya disclosed that the Oyan Dam released over 17,000 million litres of water per day in 2024, while the current figure stands at 12,000 million litres per day, reflecting improved regulation despite heavier rainfall this year.
He assured residents that the floodwaters are expected to recede within 10 days, urging them to remain calm and vigilant.
“The tide will go down in about 10 days as the mitigating measures from the state government cannot stop the activities of nature as the impact of climate change is felt more by the state as one of the coastal states in Nigeria,” he added.
Oresanya also appealed to fish farmers in the affected areas to harvest their stock early to prevent losses, reiterating that Ogun’s geographical position as a gateway for water discharge from northern Nigeria into the lagoon makes it particularly vulnerable to flooding during heavy rainfall periods.
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