Fishermen Cry Out Over Bonny-Bodo Road Project

Fishermen in Bonny and Andoni areas have expressed the need to include them in any compensation by Federal Government and Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) to communities affected by Bonny-Bodo Road project in Rivers State.
Speaking to The Tide in a telephone interview, the Chairman of the Fishersmen Association of Nigeria (FAN) Bonny/Andoni Zone in Rivers State, Mr Raymond Dike said the project would mostly affect fishermen in the area following the survey plan which he said has mapped in their major areas of fishing in the area
He said their fishing traps and areas like some creeks and rivers would be severally affected when the project commenced.
Dike said, already the fishermen in the area under the union have submitted their Memorandum to both Federal Government and the contractor handling the project for compensation.
He said most agitators for communities rights are not residents of the affected communities and urged the government and the company to pay compensation to the right people, who are mostly fishermen affected by the project.
According to him, many of the fishing settlements would be removed, going by the project surveyor’s plans disclosed to them by the contractor.
He called on the Federal Government and contracting firm to apply caution in their dealing with affected communities, saying that the fishermen in the area would not like to be neglected in the process.
Dike also called on the affected communities to include the fishing settlements in the area in their negotiations with Federal Government and the company to avoid a breakdown of law and order in the area.
He said the project would affect fishing occupations in the area and called for alternative means for the fishermen.