Something was be wrong with Nigerians.



http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/news/article26//indexn3_html?pdate=120509&ptitle=Ijaws oppose River Niger dredging&cpdate=120509


Ijaws oppose River Niger dredging
From Kelvin Ebiri, Port Harcourt

CITING alleged adverse impact the project might have on the ecology of the Niger Delta, the Ijaw National Congress (INC) has kicked against plans by the Federal Government to dredge River Niger for the proposed Onitsha Inland Seaport.

The INC stressed that the government should publicise the project's environmental impact assessment report before going ahead with it.

Spokesman, INC, Victor Burubo, told The Guardian that the proposed dredging of the River Niger would have a negative impact on the lives of Rivers and Bayelsa states people who are predominantly into fishing and farming.

His words: "We think that dredging the River Niger is not economically good for the Niger Delta whose people live by fishing and farming. There are enough seaports in the South and the location of the seaports here have not stopped goods moving to Onitsha and Aba. The Onitsha Inland Seaport for which they are trying to dredge the River Niger will create a big problem for us."

He added: "The environmental impact assessment report should be made available to everybody. People do these things because there are contracts and huge profits to be made. What is the guarantee that the river will not in the next 15 years become shallow again because of our poor maintenance culture?"

The INC urged the Federal Government to improve facilities at the Port Harcourt, Onne, Calabar and Warri ports as well as remove the restrictions placed on certain goods from landing at these ports.

It also asked the government to offer incentives to importers and exporters using these ports to encourage better patronage.

Burubo added: "The Federal Government should stop the Onitsha port project and enhance the operational ability of existing southern ports. The Onitsha seaport is unnecessary because it will change the whole ecology of the Niger Delta."

Is there any Ijaw tribe in Onitsha?

why are they more concerned?

they are stupid!! They want to enjoy the sweat of Igbo merchants the way Lagos is enjoying it, But we are taking it home or ,

I dont know how some people reason.

Before commencing dredging, they should release the whitepaper detailing the environmental impact to the lower delta. It is simple protocol which should be followed in any civilised country. Everybody knows that the same River Niger empties itself out into a labyrinth of rivers and creeks in Ijaw and lower-Igbo lands before it reaches the atlantic. Dredging the river Niger could change the topology of the Niger Delta irreparably. If there is nothing to be feared from dredging the River Niger, they should release the finidings of the environmental study. Simple! Which kain yama-yama be this?

seaport?

^^^^^

ahaah

oduduwa lady hmm

There is no correlation between the Ijaw opposition of dredging the Niger and ecology, their action is a mere witch hunt, borne out of the fact that most of the people that makes the most use of seaports in Nigeria are from the South Eastern extraction, so dredging the Niger would result to the likelihood of these people channeling their importations through the Onitsha Seaport, but is all about competition, a free society encourages that, well their actions are inconsequential because the contract is been awarded, and the project would see the light of the day.

Dredging the River Niger would undoubtedly help to reduce the pressure on Nigeria's dilapidated roads occasioned by heavy vehicular cargo haulage. Water transportation provides a sustainable and cheaper mode of transportation, which is currently lacking in the country.Dredging the River Niger would revitalise economic activities along the river. As the channel is expanded both in width and depth, water hitherto held up in silt and sandbars would be released thereby increasing the water volume. Fishing activities would be enhanced and the riparian communities stand to benefit from this, so I hereby asseverate that those against the project should kindly use the service of a physician, full stop.

ikeyman00:

^^^^^

ahaah

oduduwa lady hmm

use your brain occasionally even if you're tribally mental?

Seaport=sea.

hmm

oduduwa; what are u scared of?

igbo spirit abi

hmm uncomfortable with that abi?

k i get na lagos-kano rail way 

Attempts by the goverment in dredging river niger [which passes through 9 countries] from warri to baro in niger state is ofcourse of immense benefit to the nation, such benefit includes river transport, trade benefits, improved interaction btw people and cultures,improved levels of livelihood from  numerous activities, dvpt of inland waterway technology and employment activities.form enviromental perspective, the proposed dredgin will likely present problems than intended,
  In 1953, Alhaji Tafawa Balewa, then Nigerian Minister of Transport, visited the United States and observed how the Mississippi River was contributing to its economic development. He became convinced that the Niger and Benue rivers could play a similar role in Nigeria. the Lower Niger has been dredged twice, first in 1958. Due to lack of maintenance, the entire dredged channel has silted up.

The development of the Ajaokuta Steel Mill and the New Federal Capital of Abuja has brought renewed interest in the development of the waterways. Also, the realization of the fact that river transportation is the cheapest, safest and most environmentally friendly mode of transportation has given further boost to the development of river transportation.

There is currently a renewed effort to dredge the River Niger from Baro to Warri and also provide training works along the banks. Also, efforts are on to study the navigability to River Benue and the Cross River throughout the year. In all these cases, new River Port[s] are to be developed.

In June 2001 the Federal Ministry of Environment approved the draft EIA report and issued an environmental certification for the project to proceed. Dredging operations have reportedly commenced in some of the upper reaches under the supervision of NIWA as the lead agency. NIWA’s Managing Director, Engineer Rabiu Diori Abubakar, has emphasized however that it is a misnomer to characterize the proposed project exclusively in terms of “dredging.” Rather it refers to comprehensive development of host riverine communities and to the provision of infrastructure for navigation and shipping, such as channelization and port development (The Guardian 2001: 31).

This “full project” is described but not assessed in the EIA report.In light of these considerations and criticisms, how can the necessity of a full-scale, full-systems EIA be avoided? In the meantime, it seems equally necessary that dredging operations be suspended.

yes suspended agree along with kano-lagos rail line ^^^^^

until all the federal high way are done to last till the next 50 yrs

how many more will go -
Wednesday, May 13, 2009 punch

Nine die, 20 injured in Benin-Sagamu road auto crash

By Femi Makinde and Tunde Odesola

Nine people on Monday night died while about 20 persons were injured in an accident which occurred on Benin-Sagamu Expressway.

Our correspondent gathered that the truck, with registration number XA 589 JAL, ran into one of the numerous failed portions on the road.

The driver, it was gathered, lost control in the process and the truck somersaulted several times before veering into the bush.

It was learnt that the truck involved in the accident, which happened in the Ondo State area of the highway, was laden with locally brewed gin (ogogoro).

The truck, which took off from a riverine community in Ondo State, apart from conveying drums of ogogoro, was also carrying some passengers heading for Lagos.

An Ore-based driver, who claimed to be part of a rescue team which combed the bush for victims, told our correspondent on the telephone that the accident caused a serious traffic snarl as the road was littered with drums of ogogoro and personal belongings of the victims.

He said, " The accident was serious so many people died in it and those who were injured had been taken to hospital for treatment."

Many of the victims were said to be passengers who sat on top of the drums of the local gin

The Divisional Police Officer in Ore, Mr. Abu Olanipekun, who confirmed the accident, said that eight bodies were retrieved from the scene of the accident.

He said that the 20 injured persons were also taken to hospitals in Ore for treatment.

Olanipekun said that casualty figure was high in the accident because the truck was overloaded with passengers apart from the drums.

He added that most of those who sat on top of the drums were thrown overboard as the truck somersaulted.

Meanwhile, a housewife, Mrs. Ranti Abiona, narrowly escaped death when her Toyota car was crushed by a train in Ola-Iya area of Osogbo, the Osun State capital, on Monday.

Abiona, a former staff of United Bank for Africa, Osogbo branch, who spoke with our correspondent on Tuesday, said she passed out when her vehicle was crushed by the train.

According to her, there was no railway official to alert passersby and commuters about the approach of the train at the Ola-Iya intersection when the accident occurred.

She said, "I was rushed to the hospital by some Good Samaritans. I do not know what would have happened to my daughter if she was in the car with me because the train hit the car from the front passenger side."

The Ola-Iya intersection has become a deathtrap for members of the public who are always oblivious of the approach of trains as there is no official of the Nigeria Railway Corporation to alert the people.

There are no reflective lights and gates to stop the people and vehicles from crossing the intersection when a train approaches.

About six persons have been injured by oncoming trains at the intersection since the beginning of the year.

An Osogbo magistrate's court, two years ago, ordered the NRC to deploy an official in the intersection to alert passersby and vehicles to oncoming trains.

A victim, who narrowly escaped being crushed in his Mercedes Benz car by a train, Mr. Tunde Mudashiru, had told the court that there was nothing to herald the approach of a train.

Mudashiru, an employee of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, told the court, presided over by Mr Jide Falola, that the train dragged him in his car along the track for more than 1, 000 metres.

There is no problem dredging the river. . . . just release the results of the environmental study so we can see what we're facing in the future. . .

I need not remind anyone of the effect of river dredging and damming in China and how it has affected the environment and people's livelihoods over there. . . . shebi Ghana just lost a sizeable fraction of their power supply when Equitorial Guinea dammed up the Black Volta River. . . . it is simple logic that dredging the river Niger increases the volume of the river bed, reducing the velocity and pressure at which the water flows. . . all we wanna know is that this reduction in flow rate will not lead to dry river beds downstream, change of course of rivers and creeks as they seek for paths of less resistance (maybe they are not flowing at a significant enough pressure to overcome resistance which they previously could), and flooding in areas of confluence. . . . . anyone who has been to Ahoada can tell you about the seasonal wetlands they have over there. . . . Niger Delta is a delicate terrain. . . . just release the findings of the environmental study and lets all be at peace, otherwise it is only right to oppose it.

Ibime:

There is no problem dredging the river. . . . just release the results of the environmental study so we can see what we're facing in the future. . .

I need not remind anyone of the effect of river dredging and damming in China and how it has affected the environment and people's livelihoods over there. . . . shebi Ghana just lost a sizeable fraction of their power supply when Equitorial Guinea dammed up the Black Volta River. . . . it is simple logic that dredging the river Niger increases the volume of the river bed, reducing the velocity and pressure at which the water flows. . . all we wanna know is that this reduction in flow rate will not lead to dry river beds downstream, change of course of rivers and creeks as they seek for paths of less resistance (maybe they are not flowing at a significant enough pressure to overcome resistance which they previously could), and flooding in areas of confluence. . . . . anyone who has been to Ahoada can tell you about the seasonal wetlands they have over there. . . . Niger Delta is a delicate terrain. . . . just release the findings of the environmental study and lets all be at peace, otherwise it is only right to oppose it.

@Ibime,

You've spoken like a true son of the soil!

Those findings should be released for proper planning and adequate compensation. The people bearing the brunt of this project MUST be adequately compensated!

and can i ask as well

lagos-kano rail line; ecological meanace no apply here as well

Everything in Nigeria ended up in synical politics of tribe, if not since when does Nigeria care about ecology, especially the inept Ijaws? Where were ecological concerns since the first time oil was found in their land?
Dredging a river is not the same as constructing a dam as some one alluding about China, as it was huge dam constructing that caused the havoc in China and not river dredging. Deepning the dept of a river and expanding it bank and removing centuries of waste/silt is not ecological problem but will rather improve it.

Let me remind Ijaws that Suez canal wasn't even a river but a man made ocean that had made a different to the life and commerce of Egypt.

Eziachi:

Everything in Nigeria ended up in synical politics of tribe, if not since when does Nigeria care about ecology, especially the inept Ijaws? Where were ecological concerns since the first time oil was found in their land?
Dredging a river is not the same as constructing a dam as some one alluding about China, as it was huge dam constructing that caused the havoc in China and not river dredging. Deepning the dept of a river and expanding it bank and removing centuries of waste/silt is not ecological problem but will rather improve it.

Let me remind Ijaws that Suez canal wasn't even a river but a man made ocean that had made a different to the life and commerce of Egypt.

But it would be unfair for the government to ignore the plight of the poor people that will be negatively affected by this project. At least we can agree on that.

Eziachi don come with this him tribal mentality. It is one thing talking about ecology and another facing the consequence of the river on your doorstep turning to dry land. IYC does not oppose the dredging, they simply ask for the findings of the environmental study to be released before any work takes place. It is not an issue of tribe as lower-Delta Igbos ie Ndoni's, Ahoadas etc will be significantly affected, maybe more since they inhabit the flood plains and marshes of Northern Rivers State.

Ibime, we support the ijaw and the riverine communities that will suffer from the greed of a few.

First of all, the ibos are being decieved this not a port but a dock. It will need significant investment to make it a port. Check it out:
http://wikimapia.org/1472715/Onitsha-River-Port

The big question is who will pay, the federal government through the private development of the lagos domestic airport have shown they no longer have the stomach for such capital projects.
You can't make a viable business case for the port apart from a tribalistic one.

To build this port some one has to answer these question:

What is wrong with the ports in Calabar and PH?
Why haven't successive governments in Anambra built it since 1983?
Why is it not even on the Nigerian Ports Authority List of assets?

Remember, the same noise was made about an airport in Anambra. Today, the site is still bush.

If you want this port perhaps you need to build it yourself, funded privately, instead of relying on oil money.

SapeleGuy:

Ibime, we support the ijaw and the riverine communities that will suffer from the greed of a few.

First of all, the ibos are being decieved this not a port but a dock. It will need significant investment to make it a port. Check it out:
http://wikimapia.org/1472715/Onitsha-River-Port

The big question is who will pay, the federal government through the private development of the lagos domestic airport have shown they no longer have the stomach for such capital projects.
You can't make a viable business case for the port apart from a tribalistic one.

To build this port some one has to answer these question:

What is wrong with the ports in Calabar and PH?
Why haven't successive governments in Anambra built it since 1983?
Why is it not even on the Nigerian Ports Authority List of assets?

Remember, the same noise was made about an airport in Anambra. Today, the site is still bush.

If you want this port perhaps you need to build it yourself, funded privately, instead of relying on oil money.

If i may ask why are the 2 states here are not interested in their ports functioning since they will benefit from the ports working and is easier to resucitate than dredging the river niger?

i support ijaws.i've long been wondering why the fg has not improved the seaports in port harcourt to lagos standard.if this is done,congestion will cease and onitsha,aba,uyo,nnewi will now import through ph.if that is done,then niger dredging is next.

Abagworo:

i support ijaws.i've long been wondering why the fg has not improved the seaports in port harcourt to lagos standard.if this is done,congestion will cease and onitsha,aba,uyo,nnewi will now import through ph.if that is done,then niger dredging is next.

Why are rivers people not making noise about the upgrade of the ports in ph the way anambra people are about onitsha port since it is easier to upgrade the one in ph?

SapeleGuy:

Ibime, we support the ijaw and the riverine communities that will suffer from the greed of a few.

First of all, the ibos are being decieved this not a port but a dock. It will need significant investment to make it a port. Check it out:
http://wikimapia.org/1472715/Onitsha-River-Port

The big question is who will pay, the federal government through the private development of the lagos domestic airport have shown they no longer have the stomach for such capital projects.
You can't make a viable business case for the port apart from a tribalistic one.

To build this port some one has to answer these question:

What is wrong with the ports in Calabar and PH?
Why haven't successive governments in Anambra built it since 1983?
Why is it not even on the Nigerian Ports Authority List of assets?

Remember, the same noise was made about an airport in Anambra. Today, the site is still bush.

If you want this port perhaps you need to build it yourself, funded privately, instead of relying on oil money.

Sentiments aside, I think creating a river port in Onitsha is a worthy idea given the level of commercial activity there. Whether it will be completed is a different story. Anambra is an oil-bearing state (will be producing soon), beside Imo and Abia that also produce oil. So using oil money to develop an oil-producing (or bearing) area should not be an issue. I agree completely that the EIA report, if any, should be released.

funni folks

abeg make de start the thing

but the fact remains that these ecological concerns affect the people of Onitsha more than Ijaws

How does it affect any Ijaw land?

I think INC should concentrate more on fighting against mistreatment of their own people and leave the ecological concerns of Onitsha for Onitsha people to worry about.

I can't immagine a Calabar pressure group opposing a project in Lagos due to ecological concerns

mikeansy:

but the fact remains that these ecological concerns affect the people of Onitsha more than Ijaws

How does it affect any Ijaw land?

I think INC should concentrate more on fighting against mistreatment of their own people and leave the ecological concerns of Onitsha for Onitsha people to worry about.

I can't immagine a Calabar pressure group opposing a project in Lagos due to ecological concerns

Education don miss road. I think my post earlier should explain exactly why it is a concern for the lower-Deltans, not the Onitsha people.

Ibime:

. . it is simple logic that dredging the river Niger increases the volume of the river bed, reducing the velocity and pressure at which the water flows. . . all we wanna know is that this reduction in flow rate will not lead to dry river beds downstream, change of course of rivers and creeks as they seek for paths of less resistance (maybe they are not flowing at a significant enough pressure to overcome resistance which they previously could), and flooding in areas of confluence. . . . .

Now if you can't understand why its an ecological concern for people downstream, I suggest you return your father's tuition fees.

Nobody has answered my question.Why are rivers and cross rivers people especially not agitating for the upgrade the sea ports in their terrain to match the one in lagos?

Ibime:


Education don miss road. I think my post earlier should explain exactly why it is a concern for the lower-Deltans, not the Onitsha people.


Now if you can't understand why its an ecological concern for people downstream, I suggest you return your father's tuition fees.

Why don't you close your own seaports so that the atlantic ocean flows as fast as you want?

Why do we have to starve peter to feed paul?

asha 80:

Nobody has answered my question.Why are rivers and cross rivers people especially not agitating for the upgrade the sea ports in their terrain to match the one in lagos?

Instead of making this a tribal thing, I hope you know many different topographical factors may be responsible for this.

The Niger river, for instance, divides into a delta before it enters the sea.

In Lagos, the rivers form swampy lagoons instead.

Different geography.

Am just saying. The coastline isnt the same.

They want to enjoy the sweat of Igbo merchants the way Lagos is enjoying it, But we are taking it home or ,

how low can one be to speak such arrant nonsense, abeg.

asha80 - When things are moribund, it profits some selfish people. Enemies of progress, the same clique who own haulage trucks, the same clique who are against the expansion of railways, they are also the same people who destroyed the refineries, the same people who closed the ports in delta state. Can you see a pattern emerging?

The MEND agitation is not just about oil, it is about the holistic underdevelopment of the region, the neglect of these ports is part of that evil plan.

i only saw states in asha80s post and not tribe.the issue is marginalisation of rivers state by fg.if the port harcourt ports were upgraded,lagos wouldnt be important as it is today.