Thinking aloud on the Nworie River dredging

Hitherto, Imo people have been inundated by arguments on the urgency of dredging the Nworie River and why the project could not be delayed. Arguments proffered have ranged from abatement of pollution by medical waste, to security and inland freshwater transportation etc. But are these worth the whopping sum of N8billion allegedly spent on the project in the face of other pressing priorities? Also, now that the controversy generated seems to have gone down can business as usual in government continue? Telling lies such as those of recovering dead bodies from the sites is not necessary as insecurity to life is never solved by dredging of Rivers.

Gladly, the Imo State police command denied such claim as no report was ever brought to it about that. On the other hand, no journalist is yet to come up with a photograph on such gory scene. It is also germane to point out that the Nworie River is incapable of serving as an inland transport medium as being suggested by those forcing the dredging contract down our throats as the extent of the coverage is so small. How far can such transportation go without an enormous investment in rebuilding the road blockings on Assumpta Avenue and Egbeada Road?

Discussing the controversial dredging of the Nworie River at a time of economic recession and peril of both the government and citizens is germane. First, the Nworie River provides a strategic ecological service to the city of Owerri vis-à-vis its role as a major hydrological catchment for both flood and storm waters emanating from rainfalls across the adjoining uplands or hills that serve as its catchment areas. Its valley location makes its ability to perform this task seem effortless as all generated runoffs from paved roads and concreted buildings find their way into it. A similar task is perfomed by the Iyi echu stream in Okigwe town, and many other Rivers and Streams everywhere.

This hydrological function has a lot of benefits, one of which, as already mentioned is flood control. But then, there is also the benefit of sediment transport and hydrological stabilization which though very gradual and minimal, enables the Otammiri River and its surrounding landscapes to recover from the anthropologic effects of sand mining that is currently ravaging it. This natural process provides a natural balance to the entire ecosystem both terrestrial and the freshwater. In this regards, one may need to ask why erosion and landslide have remained a major problem around the point the Nworie River joins the Otammiri River that is around Nekede? The simple answer is that the surrounding landscapes, having been deprived of the stabilization effects of incoming sediments, exerts a balancing pressure on surrounding landscapes , the result being the massive erosion and landslides we have in that area today. This situation would have been worse without the Nworie River.

Sediments from Nworie River support Otammiri River to build some level of resilience. Secondly, beyond this role, the stream has an intrinsic value which also serves as a primary role and this is the life and habitation it provides to biodiversity. Biodiversity in simple terms means the plants (flora) and animals (fauna) varying from the very microscopic to the very large inhabiting the waters of this small River. As a source of life, water bodies naturally provide this ecological service in support of mother earth.

Hydrology is a key determinant of specie distribution, wetland productivity and nutrient cycling and availability. Globally, when environmentalists oppose river dredging, it is often premised on reasons such as those cited above.

This makes River dredging a very controversial issue anywhere it is planned and raises the necessity for an Environmental Impacts Assessment (EIA). Such an EIA enables all stakeholders to appraise all their options including mitigation. For a coastal delta environment such as the Niger Delta this could become a life and death issue as is currently the case with the recently commissioned dredging in the Niger Delta.

I am keen to see and read the EIA for the Nworie River dredging or was there none? I will be most surprised if there was none. If there actually was one, then I am keen to know the level of participation of stakeholders and what their inputs were. Stakeholders in this instance include the Nekede community, the fisher men, the sand dredgers, the NGOs, land owners and farmers within the banks of the Rivers etc. I need to point out that dredging at whatever scale causes serious environmental damage as it significantly degrades water quality and can harms fisheries.

During dredging, sediment, soil, and vegetation along the way are removed and deposited as dredge spoils. Toxic substances attached to sediment particles can enter aquatic food chains, cause fish toxicity and mortality and make the water unfit for drinking. Research has proven that waste material from dredging when dumped on the river banks disrupts the environment. Often, these wastes are acidic and if it leaches into the water, pose as a further source of contamination. While oil companies are responsible for significant dredging activities in the Niger Delta, dredging of rivers is also done by other local businesses and government, such as the Nworie River by the Imo State Government.

There have been reports of human induced saline contamination at Isaka near Port Harcourt where the dredging of the Port Harcourt harbour admitted saline water into the aquifer in the area. Canalization particularly short-cut canals have often resulted in intrusion of saline waters into fresh water swamps and groundwater. Similarly, dredging activities of Chevron Nigeria Limited allegedly resulted in salt water intrusion into an otherwise freshwater swamp forest, leading to the complete destruction of vast areas of land (over 20 km²) in the Opuekeba area of Tsekelewu, Rivers State.

Therefore, I doubt the wisdom of the Imo State Government in dredging the Nworie River. I am of the opinion that what was actually needed was tougher environmental regulation around the River in order to protect its catchment. This would have included regulated sand mining in the Otammiri River; absolute stopping of medical and sanitary waste discharge into the River and the setting up of a watershed management for both the Otammiri and Nworie Rivers. Watershed management in this case as is practiced in Sweden and other developed countries would have seen to the planting of trees along and within at least 100 meter periphery of the Rivers as well as restricting residential buildings within this periphery especially residential buildings with on-site sanitation systems including septic pits or tanks. Without these strategies in place the dredging would end up a futility.

I am also of the opinion that the weeds on the Nworie River and the accompanying silts would have been removed manually. By so doing the state government would not have spent as much as it has done and Imo people, particularly those to be engaged in the work would have tremendously benefited; instead of paying such a colossal amount to an alien or offshore contractor who has little or no stake in the state.

Imo State Government Continues Demolition in Owerri

In a belated effort to carry the good people of Imo state along, the Special Adviser (SA) to Governor Ikedi Ohakim on Sanitation And Transport, Chief Willie Amadi has started a media campaign to create awareness and solicit support in the ongoing demolition exercise in Owerri.

According to the SA, “we are not using force but persuasion. The idea is to make the Imo environment conform to civilised standard” Furthermore he said in line with the CLEAN & GREEN initiative of the governor, the government has started planting of ornamental trees along the major roads in Owerri. Earlier in the week, the SA unveiled to newsmen the Imo State Environmental Transformation Commission (ENTRACO) Law, which he said its implementation will be constantly reviewed to amend the irrelevant sections that will occasion hardship to the people.

A seasoned traveller to Owerri, will note that Owerri is an old civil servant city, with the major roads set and will not accommodate any tree without massive destruction to the roads/streets. These are the major roads in Owerri. Okigwe Rd, Orlu Rd, Douglas Rd and Weathral Rd. Where along these roads does his excellence want to plant ornamental trees?

One cannot help but wonder why the state government is putting the cart before the horse. The government undertook massive demolition with zeal akin to that of el-Rufai in F.C.T.,without carrying the people along. This belated effort is another media jamboree for which the Ohakim government has come to be known with. On the pages of the national dailies, Imo state is painted in glossy colours yet a visit to the state capital belies all these paper victories of the governor.

Can good men of Imo state please arouse the State House of Assembly from their over one year comatose? The time has come for these Honourable members to take their oversight functions more seriously before the executive ruin the state beyond redemption.

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Give Ohakim a Breathing Space to Work for Imo State

In Response to OHAKIM’s 419 SPIN-DOCTORS:

Chief Dr Ikedi Ohakim,holds BSC in Business Administration,MSC in marketing and PhD Degrees.His acension to the political leadership of Imo State ,Nigeria under the PPA flag on may 29 2007,to say the least,was indeed Godswill for the people of Imo State.Imo is a State in South East of Nigeria.Imo State has 27 Local Government Areas.

Ikedi Ohakim with his Style of leadership,it will not be a mistake to say that he knows where the shoe pinches Imo people.within the last 365 days ,he has work round the clock to put smiles on the faces of imo people.Thank God the people of Imo State decided to bring change in leadership and trooped out to elect him as Chief Executive officer of the State

“Chineke Ekele oo”,Imo people are shouting.The State is now a State to sing praises of.Ohakim is delivering on his electoral promises.Imo people now have sense of belonging in the running of Imo with wealth now spread across the State.Visitors to the state would have been convinced that Ikedi is out to take the State to the highest level of development.

Since the Governor assumed Office In 2007,there has been paradigm shifts in the areas of developmental projects such as road,civil service and security. There is notable peace and harmony in Imo State.Ohakim in his characteristic approach to handling the affairs of the state may have proved wrong, holders of the believe that because of the Governor’s minority party(PPA),there might be heavy unrest in the state. Imo under the Leadership of Ohakim is enjoying the best of oneness and unity which are vital ingredients needed for development.The bond of friendship between the Governor and Imo state House of Assembly and the Judiciary is a thing to be applauded.

In the area of security, Ohakim ,in the last twelve months,have achieved a lot.Imo State is one of the most peaceful State in Nigeria.Naturally the people of Imo are hospitable and peace loving but the Governor still went ahead to fashion out proactive measures to entrench peace and security in Imo State.Over 40 patrol vehicles have been distributed among police,Army,Civil defence,etc,for pre-emptive operations against violent crimes in the state with Joint Task Force made up mainly of Army and Police,put in place.Today,residents of the state sleep with their eyes closed.Ohakim is commited to the security of the state to the smallest details.When armed gunmen began to terrorize Mmahu-Egbema,a community that is the capital of Ohaji/Egbema L.G.A,Ohakim in Conjunction with Mike Okiro(IG of Police)sent 30 Policemen to flush out the gunmen.So many gangstars where arrested,the rest flew Mmahu.

The Governor has also revealed in several interviews that what has helped most in entrenching peace in Imo State has been the positive employment of Imo youths in different strata of the economy.Imo job center,Ohakim’s creation has employed over 1000 jobless youths of the state.

The direct result of peace in Imo has quickened the economic growth of the state.Major construction companies are today puttinf finishing touches to road construction in Imo.There is dualization of owerri -orlu road,okwelle Ezike-umuduru road,Amuro-Aro ofeimo road,Dikenafia-Isiekeneze-umuagwo road,Obioha -ogboko-omuma-Isiaku-Nkwerre road,obioha-AforUrualla-Obodoukwu_afor isiokpo road,Nkume-Amucha -Ezi obaire road,Afor -Umuaka-Amazano-Nkpulu Road,Shoe Industry-Amulu Mbieri road.Dualization of Okigwe road,Amaraku roundabout,Ikpambara-Umuehie-umuneke road,Anara roundabout,Anara-Eziama abba road,Naze-Nekede-Obinze road,Enyiogugu-lagwa-mbutu-uvuru road,umunama-Akpodimowutu-Ife road,Owerri-Umuahia road,etc.These Road Contracts are awarded to reputable construction companies as a way of promoting thorough and clean job.

In transportation,Ohakim has bought over 100 small Taxis,over 100 mini buses and over 100 luxurous buses to ease transportation stress in Imo state.Imo is also regarded as one of the Clean States in Nigeria.Ohakims pet project,Clean and Green Initiative is ridding the metropolis of Owerri and its environs of Dirts.Governor Ikedi Ohakim,Nde nwoo.Keep up the Good work.Imo people are Watching.

Kenneth Uwadi,
Editor In chief
Famous People News Magazine
P.O.Box 320,Uniport P.O,Choba,Port Harcourt,
Rivers State.

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Ohakim’s 419 Spin-doctors

My attention has been drawn to the publications making rounds about my governor, Ikedi Ohakim, who took over the reins of Imo State from Achike Udenwa in questionable circumstances. Ewu na okuko knows that Ohakim was not among the first 5 top contenders in the April 28th Selection conducted by Maurice Iwu.

Be that as it may, otu nwa shi yo uwa, ya hiri. Ohakim has stayed one year in office. It is now time to check what he has achieved. The press secretary of Ohakim, Mr. Steve Osuji on the back page of SunNewspaper of 2nd July, said unbelievable lies that make me wonder if there are people in Imo State, to correct these lies. To add salt to injury, one Mr. Ike Ben Onyechere wrote in the SUN Newspaper of July 4th 2008 that “IMO IS NOT DECADENT”.

My interest is hinged on the parroting by Ohakim’s government of CLEAN & GREEN; the new face of Imo project. I was forced to go to Owerri to re-see things for myself and what I saw is a shame. There has been no improvement to the decay I saw about two weeks ago, which gave birth to my writing A Letter to Ikedi Ohakim, published by the Sun Newspaper of 1st July 2008. As a blind man will know, the painting of the walls of Owerri green and white is not an evidence of environmental cleanliness. Mr. Osuji and Onyechere, keep telling the world that all is well in Owerri. If a blind man says he doesn’t see oyi ututu, doesn’t he feel it?

Let us take a trip around Owerri and see if Owerri is not decaying and smelling. Take a look at the gutters on Bank Road, especially the one opposite Intercontinental Bank PLC. Visitors from Rivers State are welcome at Owerri Girls-Control post by a river over flooding the road. Even the by-pass through NTA/West End-Ama Hausa, is over grown with grasses and the gutters smell. Another one that will interest you is the one by Garden Park and opposite Imo State library. If the governor is serious, what has he done to the road from Government House through Shell Camp Police station to Central Mosque? This road is directly on the route to his office, obviously he can’t say he hasn’t seen it. I challenge the governor and his commissioners to show me a functional gutter and I will walk naked around Owerri and apologise.

The governor should visit Works Layout and tell me if it befits the image the sycophants in his cabinet are lying to the world about. The whole of Owere nchi ise stinks like a graveyard, as the gutters are over flowing with algae. Nda Njemanze o no kwa na ulo while the goat of misgovernance in Imo under Ohakim is suffering birth pangs on a tether? These stagnant gutters are breeding ground for all manner of diseases. Check out Ama J.K. to Garden Park, beside the failed Co-operative bank. I am ashamed of the lies told on national newspapers by the chief press secretary of Imo State. All these national dailies that sit in Lagos and Abuja and write rubbish about Imo State, should visit the state and do a documentary on the state. It is obvious that the governor and his spin-doctors are wasting our money to launder the non-existent image of his government.

Apart from the poor sanitation in Owerri, the state capital, other cities are in dare need of attention. Irete, in Owerri-West L.G.A., Orji in Owerri North L.G.A, Attah in Ikeduru, Osina in Ideato North L.G.A. Just name it; Imo State gives me the creep as though I am walking through a massive dinosaurs’ graveyard.

I shall not address the issue of the 50-billion naira loan taken by Ohakim. Although Mr. Steve Osuji wants us to call it a BOND. But bottom line, somebody must repay 50 billion. What I want the good people of Imo State to ask the State House of Assembly is what they have done to checkmate this reckless borrowing by Ohakim. His 419 commissioners are saying that he is constructing roads. Rubbish. There is a difference between road rehabilitation and construction. A juicy part of these roads are given to Zeerock Construction Nig. Limited. Serious minded Imolites, should ask who owns Zeerock? Are there no construction companies owned by ndi Imo that can do a better job? What Zeerock did on Owerri Okigwe road, is a shame.

How about the Local Government revenue? For one year running, monies meant for LGAs have been going into the state coffers without due account by Ohakim. What is holding elections in the 27 local government areas in Imo state? Don’t allow them to deceive you that its because of election petitions against him. If these petitions did not stop him from collecting loans, or bond as his spin doctors will want us to read, why should it stop him from conducting election? Ndi Imo chi abola, shine your eyes there is a great fraud going on. From the feeder roads in Owerri-West through Owerri North to the five kindred of Mbaise, there is nothing going on as the governor keeps changing the Transitional Committee to create job for the boys. The members of the State House of Assembly should wake up to their responsibilities and give us good governance. That they are collecting fat car and wardrobe allowances should not make them mortgage the state as they are doing. How much did Ohakim waste in hosting Nigeria Musical Award, where Nollywood actresses came to expose their breasts. What did Imo State benefit from that breast jamboree? Where are the men in Imo state? Bush telegram on the streets of Owerri has it that the governor wasted 600 million to gape at dilapidated Nollywood breast.

Imo is known to produce no nonsense men. Men who are articulate and will not allow any governor to mess up the state.

With mixed feelings I congratulate the governor over the victory against Uche Onyeagocha at the Court of Appeal. With this, his parrots will not tell us he did not perform due to court cases against his stolen mandate.

What are the programmes of this lame duck governor? When will Ohakim generate employment? Agreed NEPA is Yar’Adua’s headache, how about water? I cannot remember the last time the tap ran in my compound. Borehole is now the order of the day. Otamiri and Nwaori are dead, full of refuse and debris.

I am ashamed ndi Owerri are not asking question. I hope there are still men left; men who have not sold their birth rights; men who still remember what De Sam Mbakwe did from 1979-1983. There is need to start now to check this rascality going on in the name of governance in Imo State. Read more

Using CCTVs to Check Crimes in Our Cities

The increasing wave of crime in urban Nigeria is already a cause for concern. Owerri and Port Harcourt, just like many other major towns in Nigeria are already taking their shares of many of these crimes. Crimes like Armed Robbery, Assassination, Car Snatching and kidnapping of human beings for ransom etc are already big blots in most of our cities.

These crimes have continued to happen without any effective mitigation strategy or arrest of perpetrators. Other dangerous trends on the rise are the unabated rate of fly-tipping in urban neighborhoods, street trading and traffic indiscipline and the sex sessions with insane (mad) women which often result in unwanted pregnancies etc.

In February 2008, I was one of those caught in the cross fire of armed robbers who had held Owerri city hostage for well over one-half hours. On that day, I had gone to the bank to get money and was one of those who missed the rain of bullet by whiskers. I had hastily taken refuse in the toilet of Intercontinental bank, lying flat on the toilet floor to be safe. It was a hell of experience which has stuck in the inner recesses of my memory though I have since devoted it all to God for his grace.

I still thank God, because he alone rescued me, and without him it would have perhaps been something unpalatable. I also know that many Nigerians have resorted to God, committing all to him, particularly their life and security. This is borne out of outright failure of the government to get on top of the everyday risks such as daylight armed robbery, assassination, car snatching and kidnapping of human beings for ransom etc that have come to haunt us.

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A Letter to my Governor - Ikedi Ohakim

By Che Oyinatumba

Dear Sir,
With great reservations, I address you as my governor. These reservations are hinged primarily on the appeal against your election by the duo of Hon. Uche Onyeagocha and Senator Ifeanyi Ararume. Be that as it may, you remain the governor till the Court of Appeal rules otherwise. Whatever be the ruling of the court, the people of Imo state knows whether you won the election or not.

Your Excellency, I did not vote for you, but when news about the transformation you are doing in Imo state, through your Clean and Green: the new face of Imo, I was excited that indeed something can come out of nothing. Further readings about your pet project, made me wonder if you are a fluke. I made a trip to Owerri, to see for myself, if these journalists are not merely sitting in Lagos, Abuja etc, receiving fat brown envelopes from your image makers and parroting a glowing tribute to you.

I have been to Owerri. To put it mildly your Excellency, Imo state is not “walking”! What I saw on ground, gave me reasons to question the award given to you by ThisDay Newspaper. I have expressed my earlier findings in an article By The Bank of Nworie, published at Which Way Nigeria

I want your Excellency and his image makers, who are chanting clean and green; to visit the following streets, take a close peep at their gutters (1) Royce Road, IMSU Junction through Wethrael Round About to Dan Anyiam Stadium; AMA JK by Tetlow; Orlu Road; Ikenegbu- Aladinma(from Cherubim end); all the streets in Owerri Nchi Ise. From the west end of Royce/Lagos Street though old Nekede Road (the stream under the bridge is as dead as Nworie); to NTA; IBC; Concorde to the state secretariat, grasses have eaten up the place, effectively giving green colour to the state. I shall climb ugwu ekwema and nakedly apologise to you, if your image makers can show these gutters to be functional.

These gutters indeed represent the clean and green slogan of this administration. The waters are stagnant and green. None of these gutters above flow. They are condusive breeding grounds for mosquites and other vectors that makes rubbish the painting of the walls of Owerri, white and green. If cleanliness is next to godliness, Imo state if far from the “gods”.

If the dog can do this to her child, how much more the son of an antelope? The outskates of Owerri are dump sites. There is an LA primary school, belonging to TTC Irette. This primary school, housing primary 4, have been eaten up by refuse. Same applies to Amakohia- Akwakuma; Oji, with her untarred roads is no better. The conceived new Owerri (Umuguma) is a grave yard of dinosaurs. Even Akabo through Atta (Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyawu’s home town); Ahara Junction, Isiala Mbano (Ohakim and INEC Maurice Iwu’s home town), are all eaten up by green grasses and refuse.

Another interesting observation, is the sprouting of green umbrella by the walk way. I learnt that you descended with El-rufai zeal to rid Owerri, of roadside shops, demolishing and terrorising people. Despite your “shakara”, you merely sold a dog to buy monkey. The enforcing of use of green umbrella, does not in anyway, make it less than street trading.

My governor, I shall not point you to the fact that there is unemployment ravaging Imo state. Your education Commissioner should have told you that Imo state has the highest number of Jambites, yet there is no commensurate employment after graduation. Furthermore Sir, the increasing crime rate in Owerri, is a source of concern. As you know, these petty criminals have graduated from bank robbery to kidnapping, revoking the memory of Imo under Obicheozo, Amamze and co. (Otokoto era)

Sir, I gathered through the grapevine that your inability to move fast and decisively to solve these problems is because of your uncertain mandate. I disagree. All your profiling by your image makers, point out that you admire Mohammed Ali the boxer. Asking you then to take a lesson in boxing or re- watch Rumble In The Jungle won’t be out of place. The underdog is the greatest achiever. It is the stone which the builder refused that becomes the Chief Corner Stone.

Your mandate may be challenged, but within this past one year (May 29^th 2007-2008), you have had the chance to engrave your name in gold. Late Awo wanted to merely rule for 24 hours. Furthermore, Machiavelli advised the prince, that it does not matter how principality is acquired but what counts is how you maintain your principality and subject your subjects towards attaining peace (dividend of democracy).

Ngige with stolen mandate in Anambra did well and would have won a free and fair election in Anambra, if not for the Supreme Court.

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