‘Dredging River Niger Won’t Harm Coastal Communities’

The Deputy Director, Maritime Services in the Federal Ministry of Transport, Mrs Chinwe Ezenwa, has said the dredging of lower River Niger will not harm coastal communities.

Ezenwa told Newsmen at Edjeba in Delta State that the impact assessment conducted showed that there would be no harm to such communities.

“We have got certification from the Ministry of Environment. We are going to mitigate the negative impact, “she said.

Ezenwa also gave an insight into the dredging specifications, saying, “it is 2.5 metres deep and 60 metres wide just to create a highway inside the water.

“The sand will be used to sand-fill some villages; some farmlands will be relocated and people are not going to feel the impact.

“Some communities will not even know that their river is dredged. So what is the negative impact? We have a dumpsite where we put all our spoils.

“It is the barges. We will now go inland. It is all about cabotage.

How do you promote inland coastal shipping trade without dredging?

“It is not possible. So it is just to promote trade,” she said.

The project which is expected to cost the Federal Government about N36 billion, will cover 572 kilometres and traverse 15 communities.