Engineer Dr. Adedeji Ashiru, Managing Director of the Ogun-Oshun River Basin Development Authority, has marked one year in office with bold strides in flood control, food production, water access, and hydropower revival.
Appointed by President Bola Tinubu on May 22, 2024, and officially assuming office on June 10, Dr. Ashiru has aligned the Authority’s agenda with federal priorities, focusing squarely on its mandate of water resource management, irrigation, erosion control, and sustainable power.
One of his most visible impacts is the ongoing flood intervention project at Owakurudu in Ijebu Ode, a community that had endured decades of seasonal destruction and 11 recorded flood-related deaths. With presidential backing, the Authority began work on a 700-metre stormwater channel in May 2025. So far, 300 metres have been completed, offering long-overdue relief and restoring public confidence in the agency’s intervention capacity.
Under Dr. Ashiru’s leadership, the Authority has also intensified investment in greenhouse farming to support dry-season cultivation. Seventy-three greenhouses were completed between 2024 and early 2025, with contracts for an additional 220 awarded. These facilities are playing a central role in ensuring food supply stability and driving Nigeria’s response to the national food security emergency.
Access to clean water has also improved significantly. In 2024, the Authority awarded contracts for 400 solar-powered boreholes targeting rural communities across its seven-state coverage. Many have since been completed and commissioned, bringing safe, reliable groundwater to households and farms.
Progress has also been recorded in reviving the dormant hydropower potential of the Ikere Gorge and Oyan dams, both built in the 1980s. The Authority, working in partnership with the Ogun State government, has begun steps to restore power generation capacity to deliver decentralised electricity to nearby communities using surface water.
Dr. Ashiru emphasized that all projects fall squarely within the Authority’s legal mandate of managing water resources, promoting irrigation, controlling floods and erosion, and generating hydropower.
Support from state governments has been key to the progress achieved so far. Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, and Osun states have provided land for rice and livestock demonstration farms, enabling the Authority to roll out tailored agricultural initiatives that reflect local needs.
Looking ahead, Dr. Ashiru reaffirmed his commitment to transforming the Ogun-Oshun River Basin Development Authority into Nigeria’s leading platform for food security, infrastructure development, and environmental protection. He stressed that transparent project tracking, real-time supervision, and strict contractor oversight will remain the cornerstones of implementation.
“Our mission is simple: deliver results that protect communities, boost food output, and provide sustainable power. With continued support, we are on track to make that mission a reality,” he said.
