Delta Assembly Seeks Federal, State Govt Intervention Over Dying Fishes Along Forcados, Escravos Shorelines

The Delta State House of Assembly has passed a resolution calling on Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to urge President Muhammadu Buhari to as a matter of urgency direct the Federal Ministry of Environment and its parastatal NESREA to carry out tripartite joint investigation on the cause of the rising cases of dying fishes along the shore lines of River Forcados and Escravos River in the state.

The resolution which came under matters of urgent public importance, sponsored by the Member Representing Warri South West Constituency in the House, Hon Emomotimi Guwor, drew attention of the authorities to the impending outbreak of another deadly pandemic if necessary actions were not taken.

Hon Guwor in the motion said the River Forcados and Escravos River and their tributaries, are under the siege of a yet to be identified disease that is presently killing fishes along the shore lines of the rivers.

Hon Guwor named areas worst hit by the ugly development to include Ekemetagbene in Bomadi local government area, Akparemogbene, Oyangbene and all communities in Ogulagha and Iduwini kingdom in Burutu local government area as well as the entire Gbaramatu kingdom, all Ugborodo and Orere communities in Warri South West and Ogheye and other communities in Warri North local government area.

The motion also wants the President to direct the federal authorities to protect the biodiversity, conservation and sustainable development of the natural resources and the eco system of the affected communities from total extinction.

It also urged the State Governor to direct the Commissioners in charge of the state ministries of Environment and Oil and Gas to carry out public enlightenment and sensitization campaigns on the health hazards and harmful implications of the consumption of the dead fishes in order to avoid outbreak of epidemic in the state.

The motion also urges the state government to send relief materials to the affected communities with a view to alleviating the sufferings of the people whose socio-economic well being and livelihood have been disrupted as a result of the impact of the environmental crisis.

Hon Guwor who is the Chairman, House Committee on DESOPADEC, stressed the need for concerted efforts to ensuring that citizens of the affected communities live in a cleaner and healthier environment devoid of pollution.

He said fishing business is the main occupation of the riverine dwellers, disclosing that all accusing fingers on the cause of the unknown disease that are killing the fishes were being pointed to one direction which is the oil companies that surrounds in the localities.

The Lawmaker drew attention to the looming outbreak of pandemic that could be even worst than Covid-19, emphasizing that the negative effects have already started manifesting on the people.

In their contributions, the House Majority Leader, Tim Owhefere, Deputy Majority Leader, Oboro Preyor, Chief Whip, Pat Ajudua as well as Honorables Austin Uroye and Charles Emetulu, pointed out that any damage to the ecosystem calls for worry.

The Lawmakers stated that the entire society has been exposed to danger, stressing that both federal, states and local government authorities must collaborate to seek solution to the problem.

They emphasized that a tripartite Committee should be set up as a matter of urgency to find out the cause of the dying fishes in the rivers, stressing that the fishes can not be dying from artificial causes.

The motion was unanimously adopted when put to voice vote by the Speaker, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori who presided the plenary.

The speaker commended the robust debate on the merits of the motion and expressed optimism for quick action towards addressing the abnormality threatening the ecology and ecosystem in the riverine communities.