Esther Oritse
Lagos — Dredgers Association of Nigeria (DAN) has advised Minister of Works Engineer Dave Umahi, to clearly distinguish between reclamation and industrial dredging, warning that failing to do so could create confusion among Nigerians about the two separate economic activities.
The association rose from an emergency meeting in Lagos yesterday after deliberating on the bedlam that was generated by the Minister of Works, who accused Dredgers of being responsible for the poor infrastructural state of Eko and Carter bridges in Lagos disagreed with the Minister’s position and submitted that there are no direct interaction between dredging and bridge infrastructure.
“we wish to clarify that industrial dredging carried out by our members is not the cause of the damage observed in these structures,” noting that industrial dredging is highly regulated, focusing on areas in the creeks and centre of the Lagos lagoon far away from the bridges, thus key essential for maintaining navigable waterways and smooth movement of vessels in and out of Lagos is crucial to growing the city’s economic development.
Mr. Richard Ntan, the association’s General Secretary, in a statement issued to clarify the position of the body, insisted that industrial dredging is not harmful to infrastructure like bridges, adding that the process is driven through a well-articulated environmental ecosystem which ensures deeper waterways for large vessels, regulated through precession methods and strictly supervised to minimise any negative impact.
The group, however, called for thorough investigation of the ongoing reclamation dredging currently ongoing near third Mainland bridge, adding that time has come to truly know the status of those who do reclamation dredging activities as against Industrial dredging concerns to which only members of DAN are known for.
“we at DAN supports the Minister that reclamation dredging activities should not take place near bridges and, it’s important that the Minister find out the true pictures of those dredging near bridges and also not lump us at the Dredgers Association with such operators.” Mr. Ntan further stated.
DAN opines that though the Minister’s observation is valid but vehemently objected to the association members being lumped together with those dredging for reclamation activities such as around the third Mainland bridge.
“we, the Dredgers Association of Nigeria, remain committed to the responsible conduct of dredging activities in Lagos and across Nigeria in full compliance with national regulations to ensure that our operations and activities do not harm the environment or vital national infrastructure and we share in the Minister’s concerns about the need to preserve Nigeria’s infrastructure and we are dedicated to ensuring that all dredging operations are carried out in ways that support the nation’s economic growth while safeguarding critical infrastructures such as bridges” Mr. Ntan reiterated.
