Delta Assembly raises alarm over dying fishes, calls for urgent intervention

Delta State House of Assembly has called on the State governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa to facilitate an investigation into the cause of the rising cases of dying fishes along the shore lines of River Forcados and Escravos River in the State. They urged Okowa to persuade President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the Federal Ministry of […]

Delta State House of Assembly has called on the State governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa to facilitate an investigation into the cause of the rising cases of dying fishes along the shore lines of River Forcados and Escravos River in the State.

They urged Okowa to persuade President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the Federal Ministry of Environment and its parastatals to carry out the investigation.

The resolution, passed as a matter of urgency, came under matters of urgent public importance and was sponsored by the member representing Warri SouthWest Constituency in the House, Hon Emomotimi Guwor.

The House drew attention of authorities to the impending outbreak of another deadly pandemic if necessary actions were not taken.

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

The lawmaker named areas worst hit 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 sought 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 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.

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

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

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 had been exposed to danger, stressing that both federal, states and local government authorities must collaborate to seek solution to the problem.

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