Delta State-born environmental and peace advocate, Chief Mulade Sheriff, has raised the alarm over the increasing rate of dredging activities in different parts of the state.
He alleged that most of the operations were being carried out without adequate consideration for long-term environmental consequences.
The environmentalist stated that the development was an impending environmental disaster in the state and urged Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to take proactive measures to safeguard communities, roads, bridges and other critical infrastructure from the growing impacts of environmental degradation.
He spoke yesterday in Asaba, the state capital.
According to him, several dredging sites were located dangerously close to major highways, roads and bridges, raising fears that continuous excavation could weaken the soil supporting critical infrastructure and expose communities to avoidable disasters.
He noted that while dredging remains an important economic activity, operators must strictly comply with environmental regulations and internationally accepted best practices to ensure that development does not come at the expense of public safety.
“The state government cannot continue to overlook the environmental implications of indiscriminate dredging alongside major infrastructure, which is a serious threat. Roads and bridges are strategic assets that serve millions of people daily. If the integrity of these structures is compromised, the consequences could be catastrophic,” he said.
Mulade therefore called on the Delta state government, particularly the Ministry of Environment and other relevant regulatory agencies, to immediately intensify environmental monitoring and enforcement across all dredging locations in the state.
He stressed that climate resilience policies should no longer remain theoretical discussions but must be translated into practical actions capable of protecting vulnerable communities from flooding, erosion, land degradation and infrastructure failure.
According to him, climate change has continued to increase the frequency and intensity of flooding across many parts of Delta state, making it imperative for the government to adopt a comprehensive climate resilience strategy that prioritises prevention over emergency response.
Mulade further urged the state government to immediately conduct comprehensive environmental and engineering risk assessments of existing and proposed dredging sites to determine their potential impacts on roads, bridges, waterways, and surrounding communities.
