…Seals 3 Dredging Sites, Storey Building, Factory
In a bid to avoid occurrences of natural disasters that will involve the loss of lives and properties in the near future, the Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta state, on Friday, November 10, took a drastic an proactive measures to put a stop to activities of illegal dredging of sands in residential areas by sealing three dredging sites.
The dredging sites that poses immediate threat to the safety of residents and buildings at Awhinawhin, Abarovwe and Ugbuwhianko streets in Ughelli were all sealed by officials of the environmental health department of the local government in collaboration with the Delta State Civil Rights Council, a frontline body that kicks against unauthorized sand dredging activities.
Addressing journalists, Head of Environment department, Ughelli North Local Government Area, Mrs. Victory Ikpibako, noted that the sealing of the dredging sites was as a result of the impending danger and threats they pose on residents and buildings around the areas. She said, to avoid any disaster, the local government as parts of its primary responsibilities, waded in through the environmental health department in ensuring the safety of residents and citizens.
Mrs. Ikpibako, further disclosed that before embarking on the exercise, an abatement notice was served on owners of the sealed dredging sites with a directive on them to relocate their dredgers from residential areas, but lamented their non compliances to government directives. This she said, prompted the local government to effects the arrest of persons found within the premises of the unauthorized dredging sites, adding that, those arrested will be charged to court to serve as deterrent to others.
She further revealed that the local government will henceforth, not tolerate any unauthorized and unapproved sand dredging sites to operates in Ughelli North Local Government Area and environs.
“It is for our own safety and good and, we are appealing for people to cooperate with government so that we can avoid man made disaster which can now be avoided. Dredging activities especially close to residential areas has great environmental impact on the area, and so, there is need to be guide against that”.
In their separate addresses, representatives of the Delta State Civil Rights Council, Ojumude Tosan and the Environmental Consultant to the Council, Mr. Augustine Onohworemu, called on owners of dredgers to abide by the laws guiding their operations, even as they lamented the loss of aquatic lives in the waters as a result of dredging activities.
Meanwhile the Environmental Health Officers in the Council Area have also sealed a Beverage Factory at Uloho Avenue in Ughelli and a storey building at Emosivwe street in Ughelli.
According to the health officers, the factory was sealed off due to negligence and failure to provide basic kits as well as first aid tools for the workers, while the storey building did not also have approval of health authorities in the local government.