RSESA Boss Explains Disilting Of Ntanwogba Creek

In a bid to checkmate the expected flooding that comes with the raining season, the Sole Administrator of the Rivers State Environmental Sanitation Authority (RSESA), Mr. Ade Adeogun, has said that the aim of the early disilting of the Ntawogba Creek was to forestall any flooding that may overwhelm residents of Port Harcourt.

Adeogun, who was speaking to newsmen recently when he inspected ongoing disilting work on the waterway said it was important to clean the creek and clear the drains and then make sure that there was free flow of water when the rain comes.

On the challenges facing the disilting process, the sanitation boss said there were a lot of private people who have boldly encroached on the waterway thereby impeding all attempts by the authority to do a smooth job.

He said because they have properties standing on the path of the waterway, “whatever we do, their property will not allow the free flow of water.”

On why people continue to get approvals to build on water ways despite the negative consequences, Mr. Adeogun expressed doubt over the genuineness of the approvals.

“I do not think that any responsible government agency can give approval for this kind of risk.

“Even from the fence, you can see that it is caving in, you can see that the integrity of the property is already at stake” he pointed out.

On the possibility of the authority carrying out demolitions of property too near the waterway, Mr. Adeogun said the authority has no power to demolish but would inform the appropriate government industry.,

“We cannot demolish, we are going to report to the appropriate government ministry and bring them here to come and see for themselves and we believe they will take action” he said.

For some property with no clear access road, he stated that it was evident that owners of such properties had plans of filling up the water path to enable them have access to their property.

He expressed fear that if such was the case then “disaster will happen for people who are living on the upper side of the river.”

On the possibility of the authority taking legal steps against the encroachments, the sanitation boss explained that in as much as he cannot speak for the Ministries of Works and Urban Development, it was important both ministries visit the places concerned and take a look.

He said they should come and see if actually they approved the margin or gap between the properties and the water itself, even as he said there was need for a bill and some government intervention in that regard.

On the part of residents who live along the Ntawogba creek, especially those in makeshift settlements (batcher) and use the drains as their bathrooms and toilets, Mr. Adeogun said it was a shame that this was happening in Port Harcourt and promised to evacuate the waste.

He further promised to correct the ineffectiveness of some culverts in discharging water into the main water way and attributed the development to such culverts being higher than the track of water.

“I think, this is what I call technical mistakes that were made when the bridges and culverts were being built.”

“Rather than flow across the channel, water is flowing back because the culvert is higher than the water channel

“But we would try and find a way around it” he said.