Group Threatens To Sue Firm Over Sand-mining, Dredging

A group, the Bonny Improvement Association (BIA) has threatened to drag an indigenous firm, Chairborne Global Services Limited, to the court if it goes ahead with the proposed sand-mining and dredging of creeks of Abalamabie communities in Bonny local government area of Rivers State.

BIA, in a letter addressed to the managing director of the firm and signed by its lawyer, Ishmael Blue-Jack, a copy of which was made available to LEADERSHIP in Port Harcourt, demanded that the operation be suspended pending full environmental and statutory compliance.

The letter stated that the proposed sand mining and dredging is without a proper and valid Environmental Impact Assessment EIA) report and appears to breach and violate all extant statutory provisions preventing such wholesale sand mining and dredging.

The letter reads in part: “We have our clients’ instruction to write you in respect of the above subject-matter.It is our clients’ instruction that your company has concluded plans to commence sand mining and dredging of communities and creeks within and around Abalamabie Area of Bonny and possibly other parts of Bonny Kingdom.

“The proposed sand mining and dredging is without a proper and valid Environmental Impact Assessment Report and appears to breach and violate all extant statutory provisions preventing such wholesale sand mining and dredging.

“Apart from the calamitous consequences of embarking on such dredging and sand mining arising from uncontrolled environmental risks which include but not limited to the following:

“The dredging will cause overwhelming and consequential rapid river bank erosions, destroying arable lands, farms and the surrounding vegetations which is a natural protection for the environment.

“Livelihoods will be destroyed. The dredging will destroy aquatic habitants, increase water turbidity and possibly destroy the fishing industry which is quite a huge economic activity.

“The dredging will occasion tremendous risk to the existing shoreline with the potential extensive and uncontrolled flooding and likely collapse of residential buildings, community access paths and connecting bridges.

“The dredging will cause water contamination and pollution and thereby deprive the residents of the area of clean source of water and also destroy the natural habitat of various species of flora and fauna.

“Above all, the dredging and sand mining will clearly be illegal as it will be going against strict statutory safeguards and required statutory due process.In the result, we have our clients’ instruction to demand as follows:

“The immediate cessation of any planned or ongoing process sand mining and dredging including deploying men and equipment.2. Redirect the sand mining and dredging activities must be moved to the open sea or the main Bonny River Channel.

“Commence the process of community engagement with relevant stakeholders for the purpose of a wholistic and robust consultation and proper environmental safety measures to contain the aftermath and possibly set up processes and channels for due payment of adequate and commensurate compensation for likely and resultant damages.

“Take note that if you fail, refuse and neglect to abide and comply with these demands, we have our clients’ instruction to seek appropriate legal remedies against you and in that event we shall not have any further recourse to you.”