The Dredgers Association of Nigeria has told the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, that the industrial dredging activities carried out by their members are not the cause of the damage observed at the Eko Bridge.
DAN also urged the minister to distinguish between reclamation activities and industrial dredging in order not to confuse Nigerians over these two different types of economic activities.
DAN stated this in a statement on Thursday, signed by its Secretary-General Mr. Richard Ntan, obtained by our correspondent.
The PUNCH reported last week that the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has called for the immediate closure of the waterway between Eko Bridge and Carter Bridge due to damage to Eko Bridge by dredging activities.
Umahi made the call during an inspection tour of some bridges in Lagos State.
He urged Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to enforce the closure to prevent further accidents.
“The dredger that hit the pier cap, and the pier tumbled, and they sank,” the minister said.
However, reacting to this, Ntan maintained that there is 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,” Ntan said”.
Ntan advised Umahi to take a serious look at reclamation activities as opposed to industrial dredging activities in order “not to confuse Nigerians over these two different types of economic activities”.
He explained 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 and essential for maintaining navigable waterways and smooth movement of vessels in and out of Lagos crucial to growing the city’s economic development.”
Ntan insisted that industrial dredging is not harmful to infrastructure like bridges.
He highlighted 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 DAN scribe called for a thorough investigation of the ongoing reclamation dredging near the Third Mainland Bridge.
“The time has come to know the status of those who do reclamation dredging activities as against industrial dredging concerns, to which only members of DAN are known,” he stated.
Ntan stressed that the association is supporting the minister that reclamation dredging activities should not take place near bridges.
He underscored the importance of finding out the true picture of those dredging near bridges, “and also not lumping us at the DAN with such operators”.
Ntan, while admitting that the minister’s observation is valid, vehemently objected to its members being lumped together with those dredging for reclamation activities, such as around the Third Mainland bridge.
“DAN, remain committed to responsible conduct of dredging activities in Lagos State 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,” Ntan said.
