Obudu Dam

Obudu Dam
Location	Cross River State, Nigeria
Coordinates	06°36′52″N 09°10′15″E / 6.61444°N 9.17083°ECoordinates: 06°36′52″N 09°10′15″E / 6.61444°N 9.17083°E
Opening date	1999
Dam and spillways
Impounds	Abeb River
Height	15 m
Length	425 m
Reservoir
Total capacity	4.2 million m^3

The Obudu Dam is in Obudu local government area of Cross River State in the south east of Nigeria. It is an earth-fill structure with a height of 15 m and a total crest length of 425 m, and has a capacity of 4.2 million m³.^[1] The dam is located within the Obudu crystalline basement plateau, a low-lying undulating region of low seismic activity.^[2] The dam was commissioned in 1999 for use in farm irrigation, fishing, and also for recreational and tourism purposes.^[3] In September 2000, the paramount ruler of Obudu local government area, his Royal Highness Uti Agba, promised that his community would protect the facilities installed at the dam.^[4]

A massive rainstorm in July 2003, combined with release of excess water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon, damaged the spillway and caused flooding that destroyed over 200 houses. The estimated cost of repairing the damage and also completing the irrigation works was estimated at about N350 million.^[3] A 2004 safety review reported that immediate work was required to restore the spillway, at an estimated cost of N272 million.^[1] In July 2009, the Federal government issued a tender for engineering supervision of remedial work on the dam including refurbishing or replacing hydro-mechanical parts, electrical installation and civil engineering infrastructure.^[5] The dam has reduced downstream water volumes in Obudu town, causing acute scarcity of drinking water in the dry season.^[6]

References

1. Enplan Group (September 2004). "Review of The Public Sector Irrigation in Nigeria" (PDF). Federal Ministry of Water Resources / UN Food & Agricultural Organization. Retrieved 2010-05-21.
2. ESU E.O., OKEREKE C.S., EDET A.E., OKWUEZE E.E. (1996). "Geotechnical characterisation of Obudu damsite, Obudu, south-eastern Nigeria". Engineering geology (Elsevier, Kidlington). 42, no4: 285–299. ISSN 0013-7952. Retrieved 2010-05-21.
3. Etiosa Uyigue (March 2006). "DAMS ARE UNRENEWABLE A Discussion Paper" (PDF). Community Research and Development Centre. Retrieved 2010-05-21.
4. "Obudu Community Promises Protection for Dam". Vanguard. 22 September 2000. Retrieved 2010-05-21.
5. "REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI) FOR ENGINEERING SUPERVISION OF ORUPU DAM REMEDIAL WORMS". FEDERAL MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND WATER RESOURCES. 3 July 2009. Retrieved 2010-05-21.
6. Agnes Ingwu. "Who Should Govern Our Watersheds: A Case Study from Northern Cross River State, Nigeria" (PDF). Canadian Environmental Network. Retrieved 2010-05-21.