The Akoko-Edo Local Government Council of Edo State has ordered the partial opening of the Ojirami Dam to allow controlled water flow, following rising water levels and growing fears of flooding in communities around the facility.
The council chairman, Hon. Robert Olumole, gave the directive during an emergency inspection of the dam, where he led council officials to assess the situation and determine immediate measures to avert possible danger to lives and property.
Olumole said the controlled release of water must be carried out under the supervision of engineers, stressing that the intervention became necessary to reduce pressure on the facility and protect adjoining communities from possible flooding.
The emergency situation, according to officials, was worsened by the prolonged deterioration of the dam’s mechanical opening and closing mechanism, which had reportedly not received adequate servicing or lubrication for a considerable period.
The engineer in charge also identified some essential materials required to restore the smooth operation of the mechanism.
The chairman assured the engineers that the council would consider the requirements and urged them to formally communicate the materials needed once the water level subsides.
He commended the officials for their prompt response, stressing the need for proactive measures to safeguard lives, property and vulnerable communities.
However, the situation has taken a more alarming dimension in Enwan, one of the host communities of the Ojirami Dam, where torrential rainfall and flooding have placed residents at serious risk, with the only access road linking the community to neighbouring villages reportedly on the verge of collapse.
The bridge leading to Enwan is also said to be under severe threat from incessant rainfall and years of inadequate maintenance, leaving residents, including children and the elderly, struggling to access neighbouring communities through flooded and muddy routes.
Video footage from the area reportedly showed residents abandoning their wares and making frantic efforts to rescue their children during a recent heavy downpour.
The Chief Press Secretary to the chairman, Comrade Agomini Kehinde, said the swift intervention reflected the administration’s emerging emphasis on rapid response, infrastructure assessment and protection of vulnerable communities across the 10 wards of the local government.
With the dam, access bridge and surrounding communities facing simultaneous risks, the development has heightened calls for urgent intervention to prevent the worsening flood situation from turning into a major humanitarian and infrastructure crisis.