Expert identifies negative impacts of disposing waste into the river

Warri - born Ecological Conservationist and Indigenous Minority Rights Advocate, Ojumude Tosan Bishop, has identified water pollution, harm to marine life, human health risks, aesthetic and recreational challenges as well as climate change, as some of the negative impacts of disposing waste into the river.                                                 

Our Senior Roving Correspondent, reports that Ojumude Bishop, made the disclosure today, Wednesday June 5 at Pessu Community Hall in Pessu, Warri South Local Government Area of Delta state, while speaking on the theme: " Advocating for the Rights of Rivers In The Face Of Land Reclamation."   

Initiator/ Treasurer of Itsekiri Environmental Protection Initiative, Comr. Okpeyeaghan Odeworitse Clemenx, giving his remarks                                     

Bishop, who is the Coordinator of the Itsekiri Environmental Protection Initiative, IEPI, spoke when members of IEPI, marked this year's World Environment Day, WED.                                            

They called on residents and business owners in Pessu community, to respect the river's right in the face of land reclamation or any other reason adduced for dumping waste on the river banks.                                               

Bishop, explained that the Itsekiri Environmental Protection Initiative IEPI, was established out of the pressing need to bridge the gap in sharing the environmental journey of the Itsekiri people with the world, reflecting both past and present realities with hope, so as to lay foundation for a more promising future.

Cross section of IEPI members, with other stakeholders at Pessu River bank

The coordinator stated, “that the act of dumping waste in the river in the name of land reclamation, had become the norm for residents, market traders, and operators of small and medium factories, especially those operating sawmills and producing sawdust waste. Thereby turning the Pessu River channel into a narrow and shallow one.

He reckoned that over eighty Itsekiri communities face these challenges in one way or another, with those in metropolitan areas or accessible via road network as the worst hit.

He appealed to all residents and business owners, to respect the river's right in the face of land reclamation. “Let us dispose our waste properly and not infringe on the river's rights. 'Let the land be land, and rivers be rivers," he said.

A Cross Section of Members of IPEI

The treasurer and Initiator of the IEPI, Comr. Okpeyeaghan Odeworitse Clemenx thanked everyone for attending the event, while advocating for the rehabilitation of Pessu River. He called on diverse organizations and governments to implement policies to ensure the rehabilitation of the water in our communities.

Notable guests who attended the event proposed ways to manage the rehabilitation and reclamation of our rivers, such as converting waste to wealth, more stringent laws against defaulters, and avoiding indiscriminate waste dumping by properly disposing of refuse through the assigned PSP.

The event was attended by the Secretary of Pessu community, Mr. Shola Pessu, chairman of Delta State Management Board, Hon. Mofe Edema, represented by Mrs. Patience Jitokun, the Warri South local government Council Environment Department, Mrs. Stella Mode, represented by Mrs. Magareth Arukeke Pessu Market Association, Pessu Market Administration Market Mistress, National Association of Itsekiri Graduates(NAIG), Tanro Environmental Foundation (TEF), led by Mrs. Maris Otogharenor, and Coastal and Marine Areas Development Initiative (CMADI), Engr. Henry Erikowa.

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