House of Reps to Investigate Reasons for Abandonment of Owena Multi-Purpose Dam Project in Ondo State
The Federal House of Representatives on Thursday mandated its committee on Waater Resources to unravel the reasons for the abandonment of Owena Multi-Purpose Dam Project in Ondo State.
The House also urged the Federal Ministry of Water Resources to complete the dam project to ensure adequate provision of water to the residents in the area.
The House Resolution followed a motion by Hon. Tajudeen Adeyemi Adefisoye, representing Idanre/Ifedore Federal Constituency of Ondo State. The motion was titled: “Urgent Need to Complete the Abandoned Owena Multipurpose Dam Project.”
Presenting the motion, Hon. Tajudeen Adeyemi Adefisoye who is the Vice Chairman, House Committee on Army said “the Six (6) Local Government Areas of Akure South, Akure North, Idanre, Ifedore,
Ondo East and Ondo West that make up Ondo Central Senatorial District of Ondo State are being unfairly denied access to potable water and other associated benefits due to the long abandonment of the Owena Multipurpose Dam Project which rehabilitation is however, ongoing.
“Recalls that the Federal Government, in partnership with Ondo State Government embarked on the wholesale rehabilitation of Owena Dam more than a decade ago through the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and the Benin/Owena River Basin Development Authority.”
He said “the dam, which has one of the biggest reservoirs in the South West region of Nigeria, had since been converted to a multipurpose use in line with the functions of the River Basin Development Authorities
“The Owena Multipurpose Dam located at Igbara-oke in Ifedore Local Government
of Ondo State with a capacity for 60,000 cubic meters per day can provide potable water for almost 2,000,000 persons and industries in the six local government areas on a daily basis and aside the supply of potable water, the multipurpose dam is also designed to serve the purpose of hydropower generation, irrigation, fishing, recreation, tourism and ecosystem protection.”
According to him, “the construction of the dam and the water treatment plant are basically the responsibility of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Benin/Owena River Basin Development Authority while the responsibility of reticulation from the water treatment plant to the beneficial communities and towns making up the six local government areas is that of Ondo State Government.
“The dam rehabilitation project, which had attained 70% completion, has remained
abandoned for more than a decade now, despite the enormous resources already committed to the
project.
“Further concerned that while the proposed beneficial communities area still struggling to obtain their drinking water and water for other uses from unhygienic sources, the roads leading to the dam have already succumbed to destructive impacts of erosion and the entire project site has also been taken over by weeds and all sorts of harmful reptiles.
“The Owena Multipurpose dam, which has the potential to effectively irrigate 5,000 hectares of land, is at best now only able to irrigate a meager 300 hectares of land with the use ofcenter pivot irrigation system.
“Cognizant of the need to ensure the completion of abandoned Owena Multi-Purpose Dam project in order to save the hapless citizens from needless miseries.”
