Senator Osita Ngwu, representing Enugu West Senatorial District, has urged the Federal Government to urgently intervene in the abandoned Ivo River Dam Project in Enugu State. The project, conceived as a multipurpose infrastructure for water supply, irrigation, fisheries, and electricity generation, has suffered prolonged delays and abandonment. Ngwu chairs the Senate Committee on Air Force and has consistently drawn the attention of the Ministry of Water Resources to the Ivo Dam since 2023.
The senator's call for intervention comes in the wake of recent flooding in Aninri and other parts of Enugu, which has displaced residents and damaged livelihoods. According to Ngwu, the severity of the flooding recorded since the commencement of the 2026 rainy season has further demonstrated the need for urgent action on the project. He cited the impact on communities, particularly Mpu, Okpanku, Oduma, Nenwe, Ndeabo, and adjoining areas in Aninri Local Government Area.
Reports from the affected communities indicate that more than 3,000 residents have been displaced, with some taking refuge in primary schools and churches. Ngwu said the impact was particularly severe because many residents of the affected communities depend on subsistence farming, and the destruction of homes and farmlands has affected their livelihoods. He urged the Federal Ministry of Water Resources to constitute and dispatch a technical team to the Ivo Dam to assess its structural condition.
Ngwu also called for immediate channelisation and other flood-control measures to limit further damage while plans for the rehabilitation and completion of the dam are being pursued. He said the completion of the Ivo River Dam would help address flooding concerns while providing the infrastructure required to support agriculture and other economic activities in the affected communities. The senator has written to the Ministry on several occasions and personally engaged the Minister on the need to accommodate the project in the national budget.
In addition to the Ivo River Dam, Ngwu urged the Federal Government to intervene in the long-neglected Mgbowo Dam and Water Scheme in Awgu Local Government Area. He called on the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and other relevant agencies to deploy emergency assistance to affected communities. Ngwu emphasized the need for urgent action to protect the affected communities and address the root cause of the flooding by completing and properly rehabilitating the dam.
The senator remains hopeful that the Federal Government will give the project the attention required to enable communities in Enugu West to benefit from the infrastructure. He said, "We need immediate emergency measures to protect the affected communities, but we must also address the root cause by completing and properly rehabilitating the dam." Ngwu's efforts aim to bring relief to the affected communities and ensure that the Ivo River Dam project is completed to provide its intended benefits.
The abandoned Ivo River Dam Project has been a long-standing concern for Ngwu, who has been advocating for its completion since 2023. With the recent flooding exacerbating the situation, Ngwu's call for urgent intervention has become even more pressing. The senator's initiative seeks to address the immediate needs of the affected communities while pushing for the long-term solution of completing the Ivo River Dam project.
Key points
- Senator Osita Ngwu urges completion of abandoned Ivo River Dam Project
- Recent flooding in Enugu has displaced over 3,000 residents
- Completion of Ivo River Dam would address flooding concerns and support agriculture
