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.
Salam,
Although the audacity and the guts that took Jonathan to announce this amidst all these confusions and uncertainties are very surprising, he hasn't done anything beyond expectation. That's what many observers and analysts particularly from the North are predicting and fearing. I hence got little or nothing more to say on that.
Ka bari kawai Muhsin.
Somin tabi.
Dole ya basu wannan resource control din and that is the beginning of the end.
My colleague,a yoruba guy travelled to Kano from Abuja and when he came back
he said to me that its unfair for the government to have built the Abuja- Kano expressway
with Nigerias oil money.As if we are not Nigerian's. I was mad at him and because he lives in Lagos
i told him that the greatest unfairness was building lagos from the oil money and paying the yoruba
employees that have filled the federal civil service.
Idan an yi magana sai mu ce wai Nationalism.
Salam,
In as much as I hate anything to do with tribalism, for its a condemnable practice, I always wonder at some Yorubas insatiable nature, wallahi. These people dominate everything and everywhere yet they wrongly view Hausas as the real dominants in this country, which is purely a lie. And there are many instances to prove buttress their baseless claims.
1-Come to our schools; significant number of them study here, which I certainly know is not the same in theirs in the South.
2-Industries; there is a substantial number of these people working in "our" companies both as junior and senior staff.
3-Markets: the same thing. Although they may here say some of our people are as well doing business there (South), but the numbers are incomparable. Ours are minuscule.
4-Other parastatal/private sectors: The same things happen everywhere, as I say above.
5-Etc
I'm tire o!
If (a big "if") Goodluck will play it well there is absolutely nothing in his becoming VP, Acting-VP or whatsoever. We had many of his kinds as Presidents in the past, and "nothing" happened.
I hope he'll have a second thought over other plans he has in mind. I really want this country to remain united and peaceful. War, rivalry, violence, etc will do it and we the populace no good.
Long life peaceful Nigeria!
Ina jin fa shi yasa akayi maza aka tattaro Yar'adua aka dawo da shi. Kila sun hango cewa Mr. Jatau Mai Sa'a yana neman yi mana illa da wurwuri ;D
Kasan fa South south sun bashi agenda.
Edwin Clark yake da suna ko wa. And they told him he has to follow the agenda.
In banda rainin hankali, ya za'a ce 19billion za'a yi securing shoreline and in 4 weeks.
Even if it has to be done,there are several sources that they can get 19 billion from.
Why didn't he stop building his 7billion naira home and channel it to the shoreline protection.
Is his house more important than the River Niger dredging.
^^^ The rhythm of the story was so convincing when I first heard it on BBC Hausa. They said that's what governors as well as the people living around the places where the river will navigate want and prefer wai saboda it'll cause them massive erosion. More-over, wai the work could (or would) be done later.
Duk karya ne,
Didn't they do the environmental impact assessment before embarking on the project?
It is rubbish, government cannot embark on such a huge project without doing EIA.
Besides this project has been in the pipeline since the military era. How can u just come up after a meeting with Niger Delta governors and without consulting the FEC, just cancel a 19 Billion Naira project which happens to be one of the key progressive projects of the Govt?
Anti north ne kawai. NO MORE NO LESS.
gogannaka ke nan.
Assalamu alaikum,
I think Gud-locked has made a BLUNDER that would be costly to his polictical ambitions- those who doubt the obvious should be awake by now.
DBN,
Ai ka yanzu muna gane inda ka dosa....
No comment
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 (http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/articles/guest-articles/alleged-diversion-of-n19-billion-from-river-niger-dredging-is-false.html)
This is just damage control.
He said it openly and clearly that:
"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.
Shege,wa zai yi wa wayo?
An dauke mu mahaukata.
Agenda ce mun san an bashi. It is in the news.
Edwin Clark said he has to follow the south south agenda or he'll loose their support.
Selfish interest ne kawai. Dole a danne arewacin Nigeria.
Mu kawai muke da ideologin one Nigeria.
Quote from: gogannaka on March 02, 2010, 10:36:43 AM
Shege,wa zai yi wa wayo?
An dauke mu mahaukata.
Agenda ce mun san an bashi. It is in the news.
Edwin Clark said he has to follow the south south agenda or he'll loose their support.
Selfish interest ne kawai. Dole a danne arewacin Nigeria.
Mu kawai muke da ideologin one Nigeria.
Maganarka haka take. Sai dai I don't think your last sentence haka yake. Only a few wants divided Nigeria, particular Niger-Deltans and some Igbos.
Yeah, I believe the Yorubas are keeping mum on the issue because it is one of theirs (Obasanjo) that schemed the whole thing.
Ni kuwa ina tunani.
Arewa na da wata agenda kuwa?
Maybe we should form the agenda here and make it public.
Quote from: gogannaka on March 02, 2010, 10:36:43 AM
Shege,wa zai yi wa wayo?
An dauke mu mahaukata.
Goga kenan. Irin wannan kishin arewa da kake nunawa, ai na ke jin rabon da a ganshi tun lokacin su Sardauna ;D
But there's one thing I want people to understand. Not everything you read on the papers is as it is. When I first heard it, I said to myself , "Can he be this stupid? Even if he has an agenda, isn't the timing wrong? Didn't he know the sensitivity of of the issue? Why would he divert the fund for the dredging when the FG can get it from other sources?" So, I'm not fully convinced it is as straight as the media want to portray it. He has given his explanation, as posted by muhsin.
Quote from: gogannaka on March 02, 2010, 02:34:22 PM
Yeah, I believe the Yorubas are keeping mum on the issue because it is one of theirs (Obasanjo) that schemed the whole thing.
Ni kuwa ina tunani.
Arewa na da wata agenda kuwa?
Maybe we should form the agenda here and make it public.
Muna da agenda mana. Ajandar mu a Arewa ita ce shiririta da kwadayi.
BKGZ hara da mocking....lol
Please read through the archives of the newspapers and see how it was reported.
The southern media ignored the story at first till after it raised controversy.
They were the first to however, give the damage control story relevance.
I would implore you to read the first statement and second statement. It makes absolutely no sense.
Quote from: gogannaka on March 04, 2010, 01:39:25 PM
I would implore you to read the first statement and second statement. It makes absolutely no sense.
Anya kuwa? Ni gani nake kamar it makes some sense.
1st sttmt;
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.
2nd sttmt;
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 communitiesI think the key point here is that the dredging is actually for a place situated there. So the fund was moved to shoreline protection, instead of dredging
the same area. He may be harbouring some hidden agenda, but I'm sure on this one.
Gaskiya ne fa! Manyan Arewa da hadama yara da lalaci! Ai sai wani ya zo ya fassara waqoqin Shata da na Dan Maraya tukun za a farka daga barcin da a ke. Allah kyauta!
Chairman of the South-South Parliamentary Caucus, Honourable Andrew Uchendu (PDP/Rivers) had invited the NIWA boss and his team to brief the lawmakers from the Niger Delta region on the project following growing concerns by several coastal communities that the project was going to have negative impacts on marine life, environment and the general ecosystem of the region. Uchendu said the meeting had become necessary because of the need to ascertain if proper Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) was conducted before the project commenced. An update on the project, he said, would not only allay the fears of the coastal communities but would also enable the Caucus draw the attention of NIWA on the need to put in place necessary mitigations such as the construction of concrete embankments to protect the shoreline.
"We hear that the dredging is causing severe impact downstream leading to deposition of harmful dredged material that affects fishing in some communities. We are also told that dredging may affect the water level of the tributaries of the Niger especially during the dry season and we wonder how true these complaints are", Uchendu said.
In a presentation before the Executive Committee of the Caucus, the NIWA boss said work has reached advanced stages on some sections of the dredging project, adding that on the average; about 50% completion rate has been achieved across the five lots of the project. According to Aminu, the construction of the inland ports at Onitsha, Oguta, Idah and Baro would facilitate cargo movement from the coastal ports of Warri, Port Harcourt and Lagos to the hinterland.
He allayed the fears of the coastal communities, insisting that the contractors responsible for the project were working under the strict terms of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) carried out in 2002. The EIA, he said, has also taken care of the disposal of the debris generated in the course of the dredging. He said that so far the project has been environmentally friendly as NIWA had engaged a team of consultants for the Environmental Management and Monitoring Plan to ensure periodic impact mitigation and post-dredging monitoring.
This is an interesting topic and I am wondering why I never read it. hmm. I have never read the technicalities of dredging the river niger (it wouldnt interest me anyway, ironically enough), so i am only going to comment on my thoughts on the situation which by the way may not be correct at all
Right, lets cut our noses to spite our faces. Lets dam the river niger so that the downstream community i.e. the niger deltans get the short end of the stick after all the niger river forms the deltaic region of the coastal area. So if it doesnt flow downstream, the riverine regions of the delta will be negatively impacted upon.