By Bartholomew Madukwe

ASABA—Ogheye/Ugbege coastline communities in Delta State, have called on the Federal Government and relevant governmental organisations to stop the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, from dredging a canal to link other neighbouring communities with theirs, without recourse to Environmental Impact Assessment, EIA.

In a statement  by Secretary of Ogheye- Eghoroke community, Mr Godfrey Mejebi, said “The other neighbouring communities are held by the stretch of land above 60 metres from the Atlantic Ocean.”

He described NDDC’s dredging of the canal as an attempt to satisfy political interest and profit party affiliates and associates.

Mejebi noted that what they expected was for NDDC to pile and sand fill Ogheye/Ugbege coastline to shore up support, conserve and protect the communities and prevent upsurge and erosion effect of the Atlantic Ocean on the communities.

“In blatant disregard for the environmental standards, laws and the right of indigenous communities and people, the NDDC has commenced the dredging of the Ogheye/Ugbege/Araromi canal through its servant and privies, Awaritse Nig. Ltd connecting a tributary of the River Niger to the Atlantic coastline,” he said.