Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has raised concerns over the indiscriminate drilling of boreholes, warning of potential long-term repercussions.
Failure to Sustain Oyan Dam Project
Obasanjo blamed the proliferation of boreholes, particularly in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on the failure of successive administrations to sustain the Oyan Dam project, which was built during his military rule in 1977.
According to a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, the former president made this remark during a visit from the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority (O-ORBDA), led by its Managing Director, Dr. Adedeji Ashiru, in commemoration of World Water Day.
Call for Sustainable Water Management
Obasanjo emphasized the critical role of water in human life, stressing that without effective water resource management, achieving food sufficiency and security would be impossible.
“We cannot overemphasize the importance of water to human life, and that is why we say water has no enemy.”
He explained that during his tenure as Head of State in 1977, he recognized the need for strategic water management as part of the country’s food security efforts, which led to the creation of 11 river basins, including Lake Chad.
“All these river basins were designed with irrigation facilities to ensure year-round farming.”
Oyan Dam: A Neglected Resource
Obasanjo reminded the delegation that the Oyan Dam was originally designed to generate power and provide water for residents of Ogun and Lagos States.
However, 48 years later, the dam has failed to serve its purpose due to government neglect.
“Oyan Dam was built to supply water to Abeokuta and Lagos, but it has been abandoned. Even the turbine for power generation has been ignored.”
He noted that the dam, which could have generated 9MW of electricity, has remained idle, depriving Nigerians of much-needed power supply.
“If the dam were fully operational, it would significantly boost power supply and help alleviate Nigeria’s electricity shortage.”
Concerns Over Unregulated Borehole Drilling
With Oyan Dam failing to supply water, residents of Abeokuta and other areas have resorted to drilling boreholes to access water.
However, Obasanjo cautioned that this unregulated drilling could have severe environmental consequences.
“We have continued to dig boreholes everywhere, causing the water table to drop lower and lower. This will have repercussions in the future.”
While he admitted that the extent of the impact remains uncertain, he urged geologists to conduct studies and provide a timeline on when the repercussions might manifest.
Government’s Commitment to Revitalizing River Basins
The Managing Director of O-ORBDA, Dr. Adedeji Ashiru, commended Obasanjo’s foresight in establishing the 11 river basins 48 years ago.
He revealed that global institutions, including the United Nations, only recently adopted the same sustainability vision that Obasanjo championed decades ago.
Ashiru reassured the former president that since assuming office, he has been working towards revitalizing the Ogun-Osun River Basin to support:
Agricultural production
Flood control
Sustainable water management
He further stated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has prioritized the revival of river basins as part of his food security agenda.
Plans for New Dams and Irrigation Projects
To enhance water management and irrigation farming, Ashiru announced that the Ogun-Osun River Basin Authority plans to construct seven new dams across the Southwest region.
The government has allocated ₦45 billion in the 2025 budget to support this initiative, which will:
Boost irrigation farming
Enhance food production
Improve access to clean water
The Way Forward
Obasanjo reiterated the urgent need for government action, emphasizing that the sustainability of water resources should not be left to chance.
He called for immediate intervention to revive the Oyan Dam and implement better water management strategies to secure Nigeria’s water and food future.
