Ogun moves to revive abandoned hydropower plant to improve electricity supply
By: Lauretta Fagbohun, Abeokuta.
Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has revealed that the state government is considering generating electricity from the 9-megawatt hydropower plant located within the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority.
During an on-the-spot assessment of the facility on Friday, Governor Abiodun disclosed that his administration is working with the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) on the modalities for taking over the power plant. He emphasized that reviving the plant would enhance the state’s power supply, especially when merged with the 30-megawatt gas-fired power plant in Onijanganjangan to create an optimal energy mix.
Describing the abandoned hydropower facility—commissioned in 1983—as a stranded renewable energy asset, the governor expressed his administration’s commitment to leveraging it for the benefit of Ogun State residents.
“From the information we have, only one of the three turbines was commissioned, while the other two were not fully installed. We have engaged with the Bureau of Public Enterprises to take over this plant and integrate it with our existing gas-fired plant,” he stated.
Governor Abiodun assured that engineers would soon assess the plant’s integrity and determine how to bring it back to full operation under the Ogun State Light Up Project. He reiterated plans to establish power plants in Abeokuta, Ijebu, Remo, and Yewa to enhance electricity availability across the state.
Beyond electricity generation, the governor highlighted the potential of the River Basin area for agricultural development. He proposed turning the surrounding land into farm clusters to support all-year farming, in alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Food Initiative. Additionally, he noted that the region’s vast land and water resources make it suitable for cattle farming.
Governor Abiodun commended past leaders for conceiving the River Basin project but criticized the federal government’s tendency to neglect such initiatives over time.
He also addressed concerns about perennial flooding in Isheri, stating that the Managing Director of the River Basin had debunked claims that the dam was responsible. Instead, the governor assured that his administration would investigate the actual causes of the flooding.
