With incessant flooding is wreaking havoc across the country, the Ogun State Government has allayed the fear of residents of Isheri, Akute, Warewa, Abule Otun and others living in lowland areas of any impending flood from the Oyan Dam’s excess water release. 
 
The Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Ola Oresanya, who gave the assurance after inspecting the integrity and management strategy of the dam at its operational site in Abeokuta, said the dam is presently operating at just 56 per cent of its water carrying capacity, hence, there is no excess water that will be released, which could cause flooding in those towns.
 
“The dam management is even looking at how to accommodate more water for irrigation as they are not even anxious of any release. The concern of the management team of the dam is how to have enough water for use during the dry season rather than releasing any water that will cause flooding,” Oresanya said.
   
He, however, said any flooding in those towns, especially the border towns close to Lagos will be due to encroachment on river tributaries, as well as from tidal lock arising from high rise in sea level, which will cause backflow and spills as they are close to the lagoon, and not from the Oyan dam.
 
Oresanya counselled residents of the areas not to entertain any fear, but advised them to reduce all human activities on all river tributaries near them and stop dumping wastes into drainage channels.
 
He also advised that the residents key into the state government’s effective waste management systems, which are part of government efforts at reducing flooding to its bearest minimum aside from the constant dredging of canals and removal of silts from drainage channels statewide.