To ensure environmental sustainability, Delta State Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Ejiro Jamani has vowed to shutdown all illegal dredging sites operating in the state.
He disclosed that over 40 dredging sites had been shut down completely as a result of “danger” to people’s lives and critical infrastructure.
The commissioner said this when he led a compliance and monitoring team of the ministry to a dredging site in Ughelli North Local Government Area.
The team visited Agbarho bridge, Ekuigbo and Ahwinahwi axis in Ughelli as part of the ministry’s effort to put a stop to unauthorized dredging activities that have become a threat to not only the environment but also to people’s lives and properties.
Jamani in an interview said the Ministry of Environment had requested for mandatory registration of dredging sites and submission of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) documents by dredgers across the state, while placing a ban on all dredging activities taking place near critical infrastructures like road, bridges and residential areas.
The environment commissioner explained that the move became necessary owing to the fact that many dredging activities operating illegally now pose serious threat to the environment and people therefore assured that all illegal dredging sites in other parts of the State will be completely shut down.
Mr. Jamani also disclosed that the closure was also in response to the concerns of residents about the environmental impact of dredging activities in Ekpan community, Uvwie local government area, where residents raised alarm about the threat posed by a private sand dredger to the popular Ekpan Bridge and neighboring houses. He promised that other local governments and communities where such activities were taking place will be visited.
He maintained that Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, through his MORE Agenda, has promised more infrastructural development to Deltans and this can only happen in a safe and healthy environment.
As enshrined in the MORE Agenda of Governor Oborevwori’s administration, which, he promised to Deltans, Mr. Jamani assured of quality service delivery to ensure a cleaner and healthier environment and sued for greater collaboration between stakeholders to address environmental issues in the state.
