Dredgers’ association distances self from illegal operations

The Era community in Oto-Awori, Ojo, Lagos, has appealed to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and relevant authorities to halt unauthorised dredging, which is causing severe environmental crisis in the area.

The community leaders and residents, while addressing the media, called for immediate and decisive action from authorities to enforce existing stop-work orders and hold the dredging companies accountable for alleged unregulated industrial activities.

In a Save Our Soul (SoS) message sent to the governor, the community members demanded restoration of their environment, improvement of their road network, which has been damaged by the dredging activities, as well as a sustainable resolution to safeguard their future.

Expressing their grievances, the Baale of Era-Awori Town, Chief Olumide Akinsoji Erinle, highlighted the deplorable state of the local road network as a result of illegal dredging.

According to him, the community had made repeated efforts to halt the illegal activities as letters were sent to the former and current governor of Lagos State and the Ministry of Mines and Steel. This resulted in directives to cease dredging.

Erinle, however, said the companies involved, ignored these orders and escalated their operations, increasing the number of dredging machines and personnel.

The Baale highlighted the devastating environmental and economic impact, noting that the community, which is traditionally reliant on fishing, has seen its livelihoods destroyed as the unchecked dredging disrupted the Ologe River ecosystem.

He stressed that roads in the community have become nearly impassable due to the heavy machinery used in dredging, rendering the community’s only health centre and public school almost useless.

He said: “Despite multiple attempts by government agencies to mediate, including the formation of a committee in December 2022 to address the issues within four weeks, no resolution has been reached .

“The dredging activities have continued unabated, further degrading the environment and infrastructure as well as leading to widespread joblessness and increased poverty in the community.”

Also, the General Secretary, United Community Development Association Forum, Igbinoba Festus, traced the crisis back to 2003, following the death of Wahab Momodu Egbeile, the last Baale (traditional leader) of Era community.

Festus said the traditional ruler’s passage led to a prolonged 17-year vacancy in leadership, during which time various families contested the position, leaving the community without a central authority.

He said several companies took advantage of this leadership void and began unauthorised dredging of the Ologe River, without obtaining the necessary community consent, government permits, or environmental impact assessments.

Meanwhile, the General secretary of Dredgers Association of Nigeria (DAN), Mr Richard Ntan, has absolved his association of unmitigated and unwholesome environmental degradation caused by dredgers at Era town, noting that the alleged dredgers are not members of the registered body.

Ntan lamented that such operators are responsible for the bad names given to dredging activities across the country, particularly in Lagos state, and which has pitted the organised and registered dredgers body against regulatory authorities who do not ask if such dredgers truly belong to DAN.

“These are the consequences of government regulatory agencies in not helping to organise businesses in Nigeria. But when troubles comes, all the good and bad people, in this case now, dredgers, will be lumped together,” Ntan explained.

He called for a proper regulation and review of operations in that area and strict profiling of the alleged dredgers, saying those found culpable should face extant environment regulatory laws.

Ntan added that all the non-state actors, hoodlums, and land grabbers should be arrested and made to face the law.

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