ABUJA, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has revealed that the state government is exploring the possibility of generating electricity from the 9-megawatt hydropower plant located within the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority.
Speaking during an on-the-spot assessment of the facility on Friday, Abiodun stated that his administration is already working with the Bureau of Public Enterprises to determine the modalities for its takeover.
He emphasized that integrating the hydropower plant into the state’s energy infrastructure would enhance power supply, complementing the existing 30-megawatt gas-powered plant at Onijanganjangan to create a balanced energy mix.
The governor described the abandoned facility, commissioned in 1983, as a valuable but underutilized renewable energy source.
He noted that the dam was originally designed for multiple purposes, including managing water flow from neighboring countries, irrigation, power generation, and agricultural support, calling its initial vision a “noble” initiative that his administration aims to revitalize.
“From the information we have, one of the three turbines was commissioned, but the other two were not commissioned because they were not fully installed.
READ ALSO: Explosion Rocks Zungeru Hydro-Electric Dam
“We have been engaging with the Bureau of Public Enterprises, and there is an alliance between our government and the Bureau to take over this hydropower plant and merge it with our gas-fired plant so that we have the right energy mix.
“And that is another reason why we are here: to see what we can do to ensure that the stranded or idle power plants are fully optimised.
“I am sure that in the next few weeks, engineers will be here to ascertain the integrity and how we can resuscitate this plant for the use and benefit of our sons and daughters of Ogun State under our Ogun State Light Up Project.
“I mentioned earlier that we are going to have power plants in Abeokuta, Ijebu, Remo, and Yewa to ensure that we have enough power supply,” he said.
need to transform the land surrounding the River Basin into farm clusters, leveraging the availability of water and irrigation for year-round farming.
READ ALSO: Dangote To Build Cement Plant, Nigeria’s Largest Seaport In Ogun
This initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Food Initiative.
He pointed out that the expansive land in the River Basin area is also well-suited for cattle farming, given the animals’ need for water.
Commending the nation’s pioneers for conceptualizing the project, Abiodun stated, “This project is laudable, but just like many federal government ideas and projects, most times, you find them not sustained and not fully optimized, and this is no exception.”
The governor further addressed concerns about flooding in Isheri, noting that the Managing Director of the River Basin has dismissed claims that the dam’s water is responsible for the recurring floods.
He assured that his administration would investigate the Managing Director’s assertion that the flooding is caused by water from other sources.