This is to correct the false impression being created in some quarters that the Acting President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, allegedly diverted the sum of N19billion from the River Niger Dredging project, into shore protection and land reclamation projects in the Niger Delta. The other variant of the story is that Dr. Jonathan has out rightly cancelled the dredging of the River Niger, which was flagged off September last year by President Umaru Musa Yar’adua.

Both stories are entirely false, and are being sponsored by desperate persons who are determined to tamper with the peace and unity of our dear country.

THE FACTS

There is no relationship whatsoever between the River Niger dredging project and the proposed shore protection and land reclamation projects proposed for the Niger Delta states. These projects are part of the post Amnesty projects planned for the region, and are to be funded from a “ring fenced” fund dedicated to the Niger Delta amnesty programme.

In the instant case, the sum of N5.5 billion, part of the dedicated amnesty fund under the 2009 supplementary appropriation, was set aside by the Ministry of Transportation for improvement of waterways and related issues in the Niger Delta. The ministry therefore proposed to dredge a channel through the River Nun, taking off from Onya in Delta through Odoni, Kalama, Tombia, Yenagoa, Okodogu, Okokiri, Nembe ( with a spur to Brass), Apiama, Ndukiri, Sand Village, Ekulama, Idama, Tombiabok(with a spur to Degema), Bobake, Ndorokiri, Obekiri, Yekiri, Okungba up to Port Harcourt. The total cost of this project was estimated at N19 billion, and was set out as follows:

   1. Onya (Delta) to Nembe (Bayelsa), with a spur to Brass.
   2. Nembe to Port Harcourt(120 kilometres), with a spur to Degema (Rivers)

By this arrangement the entire funds would have been spent on Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers, with the bulk going to Bayelsa, the home state of the Acting President. But in reviewing the decision, even more states of the Niger Delta, notably Ondo and Akwa Ibom, now stand to benefit.
Another factor that guided the decision to take a second look at the plan was the fact that an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was yet to be carried out, and for a project of this magnitude that affects navigation and the ecology of aquatic organisms, an EIA is mandatory.

However, from conception through completion and approval, an EIA would take between one and a half to two years to complete. So, should funds earmarked for urgent post amnesty intervention projects be left unutilised for two years even as the Niger Delta Amnesty was threatening to unravel before our eyes?

There was a further consideration. Even with an EIA, the deepening of the channel would result in a faster flow, and worsen river bank erosion for communities on the route. This has always been a significant challenge for riverine development planning in the Niger Delta. Therefore, in his usual consultative manner, Dr. Jonathan invited the governors of the Niger Delta states and asked them to consult with the people and find a way forward.

When the governors returned for the next meeting, their position was clear: some of the greatest challenges confronting the Niger Delta riverine communities were shore protection and land reclamation, since many of them are steadily being washed away by erosion. There was also complete agreement that the Federal Government moves quickly to consolidate the gains of the amnesty, and be seen to be delivering on its commitments to the people of the area.

Following the presentation of the governors, a unanimous decision was taken to embark on a vigorous effort to protect the shores of vulnerable communities, and reclaim lands that have been washed away.

The Acting President subsequently directed the Finance Minister to begin a virement process to move the N5.5 billion provided in the supplementary appropriation for this project, under the Amnesty initiative, to the Niger Delta ministry. This is a detailed administrative process that would naturally have to pass through the National Assembly before it is concluded.

We wish to restate that there was no time we announced that the dredging of the River Niger has been stopped. Indeed, that project remains on course, and site reports indicate that things are going on just fine.

This gigantic N36 billion project takes off from Forcados, through Warri and Onitsha, and terminates in Baro, Niger State. We are totally committed to completing and delivering it as one of the priority projects of this government.

Ima Niboro
SSA Media and Publicity to the Acting President
28th February, 2010.

http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/articles/guest-articles/alleged-diversion-of-n19-billion-from-river-niger-dredging-is-false.html

ok, we don hear, NEXT!!

Thankyou Thankyou Thankyou.Who cares??

some people will not stop to amaze me. they don't want to give up the fight surely they will die in it but i want jonathan to shred carefully.

The Federal Government yesterday halted the dredging of the lower River Niger pending the total protection of shorelines through land reclamation of areas in the Niger Delta.
This was the outcome of a meeting that Acting President Goodluck Jonathan had with the Steering Council of the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Consequently, Jonathan has directed the Ministry of Finance to transfer N19 billion intervention funds for the dredging of that part of the lower River Niger to the Ministry of the Niger Delta for shoreline protection and land reclamation. He also directed that the contract should be executed in four weeks’ time.

Special Assistant, Media to the acting President Mr. Ima Niboro, who briefed reporters on the outcome of the meeting, said the change was part of the amnesty programme of the Federal Government.

The meeting, which was also attended by governors from the Niger Delta states, also resolved that the most urgent requirements are land reclamation and shoreline protection, instead of dredging of the lower River Niger.

“There was a proposal to dredge the lower Niger and because of some issues about the areas, the Acting President decided to get the governors to take a look at these proposals and see the area of critical needs of their own states so that we can take a bottom up approach in the area of infrastructural development of the Niger Delta. Basically, the issue was between the dredging of the lower Niger and shoreline protection/land reclamation and all the governors are of the consensus that the most urgent requirement is land reclamation and shore protection.

“So today, the Acting President directed that the N19 billion intervention fund should be passed to the Ministry of Niger Delta from the Ministry of Finance for this shoreline protection initiative.

“The special intervention fund was supposed to be for the dredging of that part. So instead of using it to dredge now which will cause greater challenges, you know when dredged, the water channels become deeper, flows become faster and it will actually impact more on the shores of the communities. So it is that fund that is to be redeployed to protect the shorelines according to the request of the communities.

“Subsequently, when these areas have been well protected and land adequately reclaimed, then we can now go into the area of dredging of the lower Niger area,” Niboro said.

He said the reversal became necessary in order to protect communities in the Niger Delta and the decision has no any political undertone. “In fact there have been several instances of communities that have lost much of their shorelines to the ocean. Bayelsa State has lost almost one kilometre if not more of its shoreline to the ocean because of its root that surrounds erosion and all that. Many communities have lost most of their land to water. anybody from the area can attest to that,” he said.

Speaking on the project, Governor Timipre Sylva of Bayelsa State said shoreline protection was the immediate priority of the communities in the Niger Delta because of the effect of the ocean on their lands.

“Right now, the thing that will touch our people more importantly is shoreline reclamation and protection because the people will see it immediately and know that the Federal Government is doing something about their situation,” he said.

Ima Niboro is contradicting himself.

Damage control is all this is; never effective in Nigeria by the way.

Jonathan acted unwisely especially taking such a decision immediately after
meeting with so called "niger delta stakeholders" the previous night.

A wise person would have just sat on the file and let it gather dust or
find other means of sabotaging the dredging.

As for the war chest against the Yar'adua camp that the diverted N19 billion
would have been, a wiser person would have talked to one of the six governors
of the south south states without tampering with an impeachable matter cus
he needed to have secured the consent of the national assembly before that
diversion.

Jonathan still has a lot to learn in terms of public sensitivty (he has alienated potential friends)

Jonthan make power supply your priority
if it can be actualised, your name will enter history book of life.

Now who are we going to believe?

ok, next

More update on this story and others @:

http://www.nigerianewspapersonline.net/

Why was the diversion of the money without due consultation. The fact remains that he taught it will be possible for him to achieve but as soon as he realized that he is stepping on some toes he quickly withdraw his actions.

they can not fool us.

ud4u:

Why was the diversion of the money without due consultation. The fact remains that he taught it will be possible for him to achieve but as soon as he realized that he is stepping on some toes he quickly withdraw his actions.

they can not fool us.

Who is this "us"? Tribalists and sectionalists serving weak tea? Abeg let us hear word jare!
Why not lets try transplanting river Niger to Chad or Cameroun and see if Nigeria will not survive. It will survive.

we should supor the acting president in order to move forward
that is what we need now.

Turai and her crew will soon be in jail.