FG to build seven dams in Southwest for irrigation

FG to build seven dams in Southwest for irrigation

The Federal Government has unveiled plans to build seven dams across the six southwestern states to enhance irrigation, boost food production, and tackle ecological challenges.

This was disclosed by Dr Adedeji Ashiru, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Ogun Osun River Basin Development Authority, during the 46th Annual Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Association for Consulting Engineering in Nigeria (ACEN), held in Lagos.

Ashiru stated that the contracts for the construction of these dams would be awarded soon.

He emphasised that the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s agriculture agenda to promote year-round farming and boost food production. “We are building seven dams in the Southwest, and the contracts should be awarded between now and Friday. These dams are primarily for irrigation purposes, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s agriculture agenda to enable all-year-round farming and boost food production,” Ashiru announced.

Each dam project will be complemented by 12 greenhouses, open fields for cultivation, and storage facilities for agricultural produce. The initiative aims to empower farmers, ensure food security, and improve agricultural productivity throughout the year.

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Ashiru also revealed ongoing discussions to concession the hydropower-generating component of the Oyan Dam, with the aim of increasing the nation’s power supply.

The dam, constructed in 1979, was installed with three turbines capable of generating nine megawatts of electricity but has largely remained underutilised. Talks with potential investors are in progress, and the concession plans are expected to be concluded by next year.

He highlighted the critical role of dams in addressing ecological problems such as flooding by controlling large surges of water that might otherwise cause damage downstream. According to him, the foresight behind the construction of the Oyan Dam in 1979 had saved areas like Abeokuta and Isheri from significant flooding incidents.

The theme of the ACEN conference, “Sustainable Development: Building Resilient Cities,” underscored the urgent need for effective strategies to tackle climate change and flooding. Dr Ashiru called on consulting engineers to integrate green technology and sustainable designs in their projects to mitigate the impact of global warming and other environmental challenges.

In his remarks, Kem-Selem Bukar, President of ACEN, stressed that engineering designs must adapt to climate realities to build resilient cities.

Bukar announced that the association would present its recommendations on achieving sustainable urban development to relevant authorities.

Bukar also addressed the issue of building collapses in Nigeria. As the Chairman of the Engineering Regulatory, Monitoring, and Enforcement Committee of the Council for Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), he disclosed that ten regulations had been developed to curb building collapses nationwide.

Bukar stated, “In the past, the lack of enacted regulations hindered progress, but with the current leadership of COREN, we now have more than ten regulations that we can work with for a paradigm shift in engineering regulation.”

He warned that violators of these regulations, particularly unregistered professionals, would face penalties, including fines, imprisonment, or licence revocation.

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by his Special Adviser on Works, Adekunle Olagoke, encouraged engineers to adopt cutting-edge technology and ethical standards to create cities that are resilient to climate change and other unforeseen challenges.

Sanwo-Olu affirmed the government’s commitment to collaborating with professional bodies like ACEN to ensure sustainable urban development.

Dr Ashiru and other speakers highlighted the importance of engaging stakeholders, enforcing regulations, and promoting innovative solutions to address Nigeria’s pressing ecological and infrastructural issues.

The conference concluded with plans to propose strategies for building resilient cities, which would be submitted to the appropriate authorities for implementation.

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