The Ijebu Fish Farmers Association has demanded the immediate clearing and dredging of all major water bodies in the Ijebu axis to allow for the free flow of rainwater, following the recent losses incurred by fish farmers due to flooding caused by torrential rainfall between July 13 and 14.
The association made the demand at a press conference on Thursday held at the Eriwe Farms Village. The spokesperson of the association, Comrade Eko John Nicholas, explained that the recent flood led to a total loss of N700 million in investment as it devastated over 150 fish farmers in the Idomila Fish Farm Cluster in Ijebu North-East; Mojalake Fish Farm Cluster in Ijebu East; and Ijebu-Igbo Fish Farm Cluster in Ijebu North.
Comrade Nicholas blamed the flooding on blocked waterways, poor drainage infrastructure and the failure of government to dredge major rivers and streams.
The fish farmers specifically attributed the flood disaster to the failure of the relevant authorities to desilt and dredge the Ogbere River, which serves as the central water evacuation point in Ijebu North government area. The fish farmers also noted that the narrow, shallow waters of the Ade River in the Ijebu East Local Government Area have affected fish farmers in the Mojalake Fish Cluster, as the Mojalake stream empties into the River.
Chairman of the association, Mr Lazarus Okolie, said the floods destroyed fish ponds, washed away thousands of catfish and damaged solar-powered pumping systems, gas cylinders and other production equipment.
He estimated losses at over N400 million in the Mojalake Fish Farm Cluster and over N300 million in Ijebu Igbo.
The Secretary of the Ijebu Fish Farmers Association, Oluyemi Oludayo, while reading the text of the press briefing, added that the flooding situation has been further aggravated by the ongoing reconstruction of the Sagamu-Benin Expressway, which is being executed without provision for drainage. Oludayo explained that the waters along the road are all being channelled into the Mojalake Fish Farm Cluster.
Oludayo further called on the Federal Ministry of Works and the Minister of Works, David Umahi, to take immediate steps to channel waters from the Sagamu-Benin Expressway into the Ade River in Ijebu East. He also called for the dredging and desilting of the River to allow for more water intake, especially with the Nigerian Meteorological Agency’s projection of heavy rainfall and floods in the coming weeks.
Oludayo recalled that fish farmers in Ijebuland had suffered repeated flood disasters, recording losses of over N500 million in 2022 and more than N300 million in 2025, with many victims yet to receive any form of government assistance.
He asked the Ogun State Government to execute an annual clearing and desilting of rivers and streams whose banks are used for fish farming, including the Ogbere River in Ijebu-Igbo; Ade River and Mojalake stream in Ijebu-Ife; Idomila River, Odo-Kala River, Eriwe River, Iwata River, Yemule River, Uren River, among others.
The fish farmers also demanded compensation for all affected fish farmers who were affected by the recent flooding to allow them to return to their farms. Other demands include the provision of relief materials by the National Emergency Management Agency and the State Emergency Management Agency to affected fish farmers whose livelihoods and investments were destroyed by the floods.
The fish farmers further requested massive government intervention and investment in agriculture to address food inflation, the establishment of an agricultural marketing board by the federal government to offtake food produce at competitive prices, and the reintroduction of the school feeding programme and inclusion of catfish and eggs as protein sources.
The Chairman of the Ijebu-Igbo Fish Farmers Association, Afeez Bada, Chairman of the Mojalake Fish Farmers Association, Isah Hussein, and Chairman of the Idomila Fish Farmers Association, Jonathan Ojetola, all joined their voices to the call for government compensation and urgent intervention in solving the flooding challenges affecting fish farmers.
