Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has revealed plans by his administration to take over the 9-megawatt hydro power plant at the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority as part of efforts to boost electricity supply in the state.
Speaking during an on-the-spot assessment of the facility on Friday, Abiodun disclosed that discussions are ongoing with the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) to facilitate the takeover and integration of the hydro plant with the 30-megawatt gas-fired power plant in Onijanganjangan.
“This hydro power plant has remained underutilized for years. Our government is committed to ensuring that stranded power assets like this are put to optimal use,” he stated.
“We have been engaging with the Bureau of Public Enterprises, and there is an alliance between our government and the Bureau to take over this hydro power plant and merge it with our gas-fired plant so that we have the right energy mix.”
The governor noted that the dam and hydro power plant, commissioned in 1983, were originally designed to manage water flow, support irrigation, and generate electricity, but have not been fully utilized.
He revealed that while one of the three turbines was commissioned, the remaining two were not installed for full operation.
Abiodun assured that a technical team would soon assess the structural integrity of the facility and make recommendations for its resuscitation.
“In the next few weeks, engineers will be here to ascertain the integrity and how we can resuscitate this plant for the benefit of our sons and daughters of Ogun State under our Light Up Ogun project,” he added.
Boosting Agriculture with Farm Clusters and Irrigation
Beyond power generation, the governor emphasized the need to utilize the vast land surrounding the river basin for agricultural development.
He stated that the state would align with the Renewed Hope Food Initiative of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to create farm clusters that would benefit from year-round irrigation.
“We’ve seen that we can further utilize the potential that the dam offers. We will ensure proper acquisition of farmlands around here, ensuring they are properly farmed under the Renewed Hope Food Initiative to guarantee food security,” Abiodun stated.
He also highlighted the potential for cattle farming in the area, noting that livestock requires a steady water supply.
Flooding Concerns and Clarification on Isheri Floods
Addressing concerns about recurring floods in Isheri, the governor quoted the Managing Director of the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority, who dismissed claims that water released from the dam was responsible for the perennial flooding.
“The Managing Director has clarified that the flooding in Isheri is not caused by this dam but by water from other sources,” Abiodun stated. “We will further investigate this claim to determine the real cause and find a lasting solution.”
He commended the visionaries behind the project but lamented the lack of sustained maintenance and optimization of federal government projects.
“This project is laudable, but just like many federal government ideas and projects, most times, you find them not sustained and not fully optimized, and this is no exception,” he remarked.
The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to revitalizing key infrastructure that would contribute to economic growth and improve the lives of Ogun State residents.
