Farmers in Mpu and Okpanku communities of Aninri Local Government Area, Enugu State, face significant threats due to an abandoned dam project on the Ivo River. This dam, initially proposed to improve agriculture and support local livelihoods, has instead become a source of devastating flooding.
The Ivo River Dam project began in 2012 under the facilitation of former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu. The project aimed to boost food production, enable fishery, generate electricity, and encourage agro-allied businesses. Unfortunately, the dam was left without spillways, resulting in uncontrolled spillage during heavy rains. This has led to repeated floods that destroy farmlands, threatening both food security and the survival of local farmers.
Farmers across Aninri LGA in Enugu State, and neighboring Ebonyi State, continue to bear the brunt of this neglect. The floods have washed away hectares of cultivated land, leaving many families in dire circumstances.
Mazi Chukwu Ogbonnaya, a 60-year-old farmer, is one of the worst affected. His cassava and rice farm was destroyed, leaving him with no means to support his family. “If death comes, let it come,” Ogbonnaya said in despair. “I have nine children, and I don’t know how to feed them now.”
Similarly, rice farmer Francis Okorie has lost his entire crop to the flooding. “This dam has destroyed everything I planted. Now, there’s nothing left for me or my family,” Okorie lamented, standing on what used to be a thriving rice field.
For farmers like Charles Iregbu of Obeagu Mpu, the flooding has not only destroyed rice fields but also other crops like cassava. He stated, “For the past three months, we have lived in hunger, with our fields submerged. This dam was supposed to support all-year farming, but instead, it has brought nothing but ruin.”
The dam project, which many hoped would be a source of prosperity, is instead causing hardship. Local youth leader Clement Omeh expressed the frustration of his community, highlighting the initial excitement when the project was launched. He said, “We celebrated when the project started. Now, it has become the main source of our tears.”
Despite the evident impacts, there seems to be no clear plan for remediation from those responsible. The dam, awarded to Ambeez Services Nigeria Limited, remains abandoned, and responses from the Ministry of Water Resources have been inconsistent at best.
While the dam remains a federal project, Enugu State government officials have indicated a willingness to provide temporary relief. Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Patrick Ubru, has confirmed the state’s efforts to send palliatives and distribute seeds to affected farmers. However, the long-term solution—completing the dam—still requires federal intervention.
The House of Representatives had, in early 2023, called on the Ministry of Water Resources to complete the dam. The abandoned project has already caused significant ecological and economic setbacks, affecting over 40,000 acres of farmland and displacing numerous households.
The failure to complete the Ivo River Dam project is not only a setback for the communities in Aninri but also a missed opportunity for regional development. Cyprian Ajah, a farmer and local writer, emphasized that the dam could have transformed Enugu State’s agricultural output. “If completed, the dam could have been a source of irrigation, ensuring food abundance during all seasons,” Ajah said. “It’s time the government steps up to complete what was started.”
The plight of farmers in Mpu, Okpanku, and other affected communities should not be ignored. Urgent action is required to either complete the Ivo River Dam or implement interim measures to prevent further flooding. Until then, these communities will continue to suffer, living at the mercy of the very project that was supposed to improve their livelihoods.
