State legislates end to Niger River dredging

The Bayelsa State House of Assembly has passed a motion stopping the federal government and Petroleum Trust Fund from further dredging of the lower Niger River until a proper environmental impact assessment is made.

The representative of the Sagbama Constituency and presenter of the motion, Prosper Nwaguzo, said the initial environmental impact study was not properly done on the dredging initiated by the fund. He added that the dredging project, estimated at 8.3 billion naira (US $82 million), had the sole objective of providing year-round navigability for vessels from the Delta port of Warri to the northern hinterland of Nigeria.

He criticised compensation paid to the affected communities saying that of the 10 communities paid some 10 million naira ($ 98,814), nine are from Delta and just Elembiri from Bayelsa State. He warned against further destruction of the ecosystem as it affects farmers and fishermen in the area, ‘The Guardian’ reported.