Mariner Urges Check On Dredging Activities In Rivers

A mariner, Capt Pre
cious Onoigbe, has again called on the Ministry of Environment, the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and other relevant authorities in Rivers State to check the indiscriminate dredging of sand in waterways of the state.
Onoigbe, in a chat with our correspondent in Port Harcourt said it was time to regulate the sand dredging activities in the state, in order to safeguard water transportation.
“The illegal and indiscriminate activities of sand dredgers now poses a great challenge  to the safety of marine lives and property as it has become an all comers affair as even unlicensed operators have taken over the business,” he lamented.
The martime expert said the reckless and illegal sand excavation had made the depth of water ways dangerous for transportation and aquatic activities.
He noted that the authorities should effectively tackle the menace of these illegal sand dredgers, whose interest is for commercial purposes because of the danger it posed to lives and property of marine operators, including passengers plying such routes.
He opined that the authorities are aware of the areas where such illegal and indiscriminate sand dredging is taking place in Rivers State and should act fast in order to save the lives and property of its citizens.