Oyan River Dam
Encyclopedia
The Oyan River Dam is in Abeokuta North
local government area of Ogun State
in the West of Nigeria
, about 20 km north west of the state capital Abeokuta
. The dam crosses the Oyan River, a tributary of the Ogun River
. It is used primarily to supply raw water to Lagos
and Abeokuta, but has potential for use in irrigation and power generation.
, and is operated by the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority.
The lake is in the savannah region, with sparse trees and grasses and low fertility.
It covers 4,000 hectares and has a catchment area of 9,000 km2.
The dam has a crest length of 1044 m, height 30.4 m and gross storage capacity of 270 million m3.
It was designed to supply raw water to Lagos and Abeokuta, and to support the 3,000 hectare Lower Ogun Irrigation Project.
Three turbines of 3 megawatts each were installed in 1983 but as of 2007 had not been used.
Some of the settlers fish the lake and farm vegetables along the fertile shoreline as the lake recedes in the dry season.
A 2009 study of levels of urinary schistosomiasis
in the Ibaro-Oyan and Abule Titun communities, which depend on the Oyan Dam for their livelihood, found high levels of infection due to use of untreated water.
An earlier study in 1990-1993 had indicated that the risk of the disease, which is carried by snails, could be greatly reduced if the reservoir were continuously discharged during the hot dry season.
In February 2010 the dam was failing to deliver sufficient raw water for the Abeokuta water works to meet demands. The water works was also struggling with equipment failure due to a power surge.
Residents of Abeokuta were forced to rely on rivers and streams to meet their water needs.
The Ogun State Water Corporation attributed the problem to the unreliable supply of electricity from the Power Holding Corporation of Nigeria.
The dam was intended to support 3,000 hectares in the first phase, but the land had been lying fallow.
In November 2009 the Minister of Power, Rilwan Lanre Babalola
paid an inspection visit to the dam and said the Federal Government had earmarked a substantial sum for rehabilitation of hydro-electric Dams across the country.
The lake is relatively rich in fish and other wildlife, and has potential for ecotourism.
Abeokuta North
Abeokuta North is a National Assembly delegation in Ogun State, Nigeria. It has been represented by Kayode Amusan since 2007....
local government area of Ogun State
Ogun State
Ogun State is a state in South-western Nigeria. It borders Lagos State to the South, Oyo and Osun states to the North, Ondo State to the east and the republic of Benin to the west. Abeokuta is the capital and largest city in the state...
in the West of Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
, about 20 km north west of the state capital Abeokuta
Abeokuta
Abeokuta is the largest city and capital of Ogun State in southwest Nigeria and is situated at , on the Ogun River; 64 miles north of Lagos by railway, or 81 miles by water. As of 2005, Abeokuta and the surrounding area had a population of 593,140....
. The dam crosses the Oyan River, a tributary of the Ogun River
Ogun River
The Ogun River is a waterway in Nigeria that discharges into the Lagos Lagoon.-Course and usage:The river rises in Oyo State near Shaki at coordinates and flow through Ogun State into Lagos State....
. It is used primarily to supply raw water to Lagos
Lagos
Lagos is a port and the most populous conurbation in Nigeria. With a population of 7,937,932, it is currently the third most populous city in Africa after Cairo and Kinshasa, and currently estimated to be the second fastest growing city in Africa...
and Abeokuta, but has potential for use in irrigation and power generation.
Structure
The dam was commissioned on 29 March 1983 by president Shehu ShagariShehu Shagari
Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari, Turakin Sakkwato served as the President of Nigeria's Second Republic , after the handover of power by General Olusegun Obasanjo's military government....
, and is operated by the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority.
The lake is in the savannah region, with sparse trees and grasses and low fertility.
It covers 4,000 hectares and has a catchment area of 9,000 km2.
The dam has a crest length of 1044 m, height 30.4 m and gross storage capacity of 270 million m3.
It was designed to supply raw water to Lagos and Abeokuta, and to support the 3,000 hectare Lower Ogun Irrigation Project.
Three turbines of 3 megawatts each were installed in 1983 but as of 2007 had not been used.
Impact
During construction, 22 villages were submerged, with the displaced people moved to three settlement camps.Some of the settlers fish the lake and farm vegetables along the fertile shoreline as the lake recedes in the dry season.
A 2009 study of levels of urinary schistosomiasis
Schistosomiasis
Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease caused by several species of trematodes , a parasitic worm of the genus Schistosoma. Snails often act as an intermediary agent for the infectious diseases until a new human host is found...
in the Ibaro-Oyan and Abule Titun communities, which depend on the Oyan Dam for their livelihood, found high levels of infection due to use of untreated water.
An earlier study in 1990-1993 had indicated that the risk of the disease, which is carried by snails, could be greatly reduced if the reservoir were continuously discharged during the hot dry season.
Operations
In May 2009, after heavy rainfall the dam operators were forced to release exceptional amounts of water from the dam for safety reasons, causing some flooding over an area of 2,800 hectares.In February 2010 the dam was failing to deliver sufficient raw water for the Abeokuta water works to meet demands. The water works was also struggling with equipment failure due to a power surge.
Residents of Abeokuta were forced to rely on rivers and streams to meet their water needs.
The Ogun State Water Corporation attributed the problem to the unreliable supply of electricity from the Power Holding Corporation of Nigeria.
Potential
In 2010 the federal government budgeted N43 million for construction of the gravity irrigation scheme at the dam and N11 million for dam operations.The dam was intended to support 3,000 hectares in the first phase, but the land had been lying fallow.
In November 2009 the Minister of Power, Rilwan Lanre Babalola
Rilwan Lanre Babalola
Rilwan Lanre Babalola was appointed Nigerian Minister of Power on 17 December 2008 after a cabinet shuffle by President Umaru Yar'Adua.He left office in March 2010 when Acting President Goodluck Jonathan dissolved his cabinet.-Background:...
paid an inspection visit to the dam and said the Federal Government had earmarked a substantial sum for rehabilitation of hydro-electric Dams across the country.
The lake is relatively rich in fish and other wildlife, and has potential for ecotourism.