Senator Osita Ngwu, representing Enugu West Senatorial District, has renewed his call for the Federal Government to urgently intervene in the abandoned Ivo River Dam Project in Enugu State. The project, initiated under a previous administration, was meant to provide water supply, irrigation, fishery, and electricity generation. However, it has suffered prolonged delays and abandonment, leaving surrounding communities at risk. Ngwu stressed that the dam's completion is crucial to mitigate the recurring flooding affecting communities in Aninri and other Local Government Areas of the state.
The Senator's renewed appeal comes as the 2026 rainy season has brought devastating flooding to communities in Aninri Local Government Area, displacing over 3,000 residents across five communities. The affected communities, predominantly made up of subsistence farmers, have lost their homes and primary means of livelihood. Ngwu expressed hope that the current administration, under President Bola Tinubu's Renewed Hope agenda, would prioritize the project's completion. He noted that the project has failed to deliver its conceived benefits due to prolonged delays and abandonment.
Ngwu called on the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and other relevant government agencies to urgently respond to the situation. He requested that they commence the necessary processes to complete the dam under the infrastructure and development priorities of the administration. The Senator lamented that despite his repeated appeals since 2023, the project has not been given the required attention. He had written to the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and personally engaged the Minister of Water Resources on the need to accommodate the project in the national budget.
The Senator's appeal is centered on the severity of the flooding witnessed since the onset of the 2026 rainy season. He emphasized that the continued delay in addressing the dam's structural and flood-control challenges can no longer be ignored. Ngwu recalled that he had drawn the attention of the Ministry to the abandoned Ivo Dam on several occasions, requesting government intervention. He urged the Federal Ministry of Water Resources to immediately constitute and dispatch a technical team to the Ivo Dam for a comprehensive assessment of the project's current structural condition.
Ngwu further appealed for immediate emergency channelization and flood-control measures to reduce the ongoing destruction and protect residents while the long-term rehabilitation and completion of the project are being pursued. He stressed that completing the Ivo River Dam should be treated not merely as an infrastructure project but as an urgent intervention capable of protecting lives, restoring livelihoods, and unlocking the agricultural and economic potential of communities in Enugu State.
The flooding has caused extensive damage across communities in Aninri Local Government Area, with Mpu, Okpanku, Oduma, Nenwe, Ndeabo, and adjoining communities among those seriously affected. Reports from the affected communities indicate that many residents are seeking shelter in primary schools and churches in Mpu and Oduma. The Senator lamented that the consequences of the flooding are particularly severe because the affected communities rely heavily on agriculture.
Ngwu concluded by emphasizing that completing the Ivo River Dam project is crucial for the development of Enugu West communities. He remains hopeful that the Renewed Hope administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will give this project the attention it deserves and ensure that the people of Enugu West can finally benefit from the infrastructure that was conceived for their development.
Key points
- Senator Osita Ngwu calls for urgent intervention in the abandoned Ivo River Dam Project.
- The project aims to provide water supply, irrigation, fishery, and electricity generation to communities in Enugu State.
- Over 3,000 residents have been displaced due to flooding in Aninri Local Government Area.
