NAN-AE-12
Dredging
Lagos, May 18, 2017 (NAN) Mr John Ekoko, a former Chairman of Nigerian Environmental Society, Lagos Island Chapter, on Thursday urged the Federal Government to check illegal evacuation of sand from the lower Niger River.
Ekoko told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that erosion on the shorelines was not the major problem, but illegal dredging of sands in the area.
”Most of the water course along the river from Lokoja to Benue has been turned to marshy lands which result in excessive flooding of communities during rainy season.
”The marshy lands are caused by illegal dredging of sands in the area.
”If government is sincere with the dredging of the lower Niger River it will help the communities as the water will be contained in the water course instead of overflowing its banks,” he said.
Ekoko said that if the dredging was done properly the commercial lives of the people in the area would be revived.
He said that ships would be able to navigate to the hinterlands and the moribund ports along the river and the communities would be active once more.
The environmentalist said that the dredging of the lower Niger was an intensive capital project and could only be done by the Federal Government and big construction companies.
He said that if properly coordinated the sand removed from the river could be used to construct bridges around the area.
Ekoko commended the government for kick starting the dredging in 2014 but decried the pace of work, which he said, had slowed down.
He said that it require the political will on the part of the present administration to continue and to complete the project.
“The dredging and regular clearing of sandbars in the lower Niger River is necessary to open up the hinterlands for commercial activities,” he noted. (NAN)
ACA/OFN/AFA
Edited by Felix Nwadioha/Felix Ajide