– calls for investigation into death of fishes

Abiola Seun

Member of the House of Representatives from Rivers State, Rep. Farah Dagogo, (PDP, Rivers), has warned federal officials saddled with unraveling the circumstances that led to the #deathOfFishes along the #Niger-Delta coastline to do a thorough job devoid of any cover-up.

This is coming barely few hours the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), claimed to have commenced investigation into the colossal damage to aquatic lives in the south-south region of the country.

The NIMASA and National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) are the agencies saddled with the responsibility of unravelling what led to the death of the fishes.

But Dagogo, who represents Degema/Bonny Federal Constituency of Rivers State, made this known on Monday via a statement, described the incident as ‘colossal’ with calamitous consequences for the socio-economic lives of both the citizens and affected states of the Niger Delta.

He noted some of the Niger Delta States affected include; Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, and Akwa Ibom.

“My attention, as the Representative of Degema / Bonny Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives from Rivers State, has been drawn to the catastrophic death of fishes around the Niger Delta Coastline by my constituents and other persons from neighboring Niger Delta States. I use this medium to state inter allia, that:

“The death of the fishes in our coastal waterways is colossal and has severe implications on the socio-economic development of our people in particular and the States of Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, and Delta in general.

The Federal Lawmaker said though he has been monitoring the response and activities of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) since the incident occurred, he disclosed that preliminary investigation conducted by him suggests a possible toxicity of the Atlantic Ocean by major oil and gas companies operating within that domain.

“Their death may be as a consequence of pollution caused by the oil and gas companies operating in the region or other associated factors as noted by some environmentalists, or likely as a result of increasing toxicity of the Atlantic ocean, which the primary investigation I conducted indicate. And it can also be all of the aforementioned.

“In view of the calamitous consequences this strange incident portends, especially on the socio – economic lives of both the citizens and the affected Niger Delta States, I urge my constituents to be law abiding and continue to maintain peace in order to allow for meaningful engagements with the State Institutions and the Oil and Gas Companies, whose activities directly impact on the coastline.

“Towards achieving the above, therefore, I call for the Inter-Institutional Investigation of the matter, with empirical studies to ascertain the causes of the hydrophobic incidence and possible options for putting it at bay.

“Consequently, I am closely monitoring the current actions being taken by the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) and urge the Agency to be unwavering in its attempt to unravel the truth and present a result that would be accepted within the global community, as no cover up in whatever disguise would be tolerated.

“Further to the fore-going, we urge the Federal Government to transparently audit the matter, and if any body, Corporate, or otherwise is found wanting, such a body be sanctioned in line with Nigerian and International Laws.

“In the event that urgent actions are not taken to address this ugly imbroglio, I have been in serious discussions with my fellow members, from the Niger Delta region and other zones, on the best approach to apply all legislative means to ensure that our constituents do not suffer epidemic and further financial loss as a result of this development, “

he added