Rivers’ Communities Seek Suspension Of Planned Sand–mining In Bonny Creek

Abalamabie communities in Bonny local government area of Rivers State have asked the state government to suspend the planned sand-mining activities in the Abalamabie Creek.

The communities, in a petition written on their  behalf by the Bonny Improvement Association (BIA) to the state government, also demanded for alternative sourcing from the Bonny River for the construction of the proposed Bonny Vehicular Terminal project.

The petition, which was signed by BIA president and secretary, Professor Sodienye Abere and Evangelist Godwin Jumbo, respectively, was addressed to the state commissioner for Environment.

Insisting that the proposed site for the sand-mining is a mere creek and not a river, the Abalamabie communities said dredging the creek will cause rapid river bank erosion, destroying arable lands, farm huts and surrounding vegetation.

The petition, a copy of which was sent to the chairman of Bonny LGA, said the creek constitutes the aforementioned communities’ primary source of fish and freshwater.

The petition reads in part: “We the undersigned on behalf of the Bonny Improvement Association, BIA (founded 1919) in conjunction with the representatives of ABALAMABIE (LongJohn /Hart/Jumbo/Pepple/Allison) communities write to fervently object to the proposed dredging and sand mining operations in the relatively narrow Abalamabie creek designed to source sand for the construction of the Bonny Vehicular Terminal project.

“We have recently been reliably informed of plans to commence sand mining within the said narrow residential creek which serves as the livelihood of these five sister Bonny communities. We consider this proposed operation a direct threat to our livelihood, safety, and ecosystem.

“The proposed site is a narrow creek, not a large river. Dredging here will cause rapid river Bank erosion, destroying arable lands, farm huts and surrounding vegetation.

“This creek constitutes the aforementioned communities’ primary source of fish and freshwater. Dredging will destroy aquatic habitats, increase water turbidity, and possibly wipe out our fishing industry.

“Sand mining in this narrow inland waterway undermines the stability of our shoreline stability, risking the collapse of residential buildings, community access paths, and nearby bridges.

“The machinery used for dredging will pollute the waters, depriving residents of clean water for daily use and contaminating the habitat of various species of flora and fauna.

“We are particularly concerned that there has not been adequate EIA study conducted to assess the long term impact on the proximate rural communities.

“We understand the dare need for sand to execute infrastructural development projects, like the proposed Bonny Vehicular Terminal in Bonny Island. However, this veritable demand should not come at the cost of our existence. Also we demand that the mining operators be redirected to the oceanic Bonny River.”