Ahead of the construction of a Deep Seaport in Finima in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State, stakeholders have been called upon to emplace necessary systems to assuage the environmental impact of the project on the island community.

A Maritime expert, Stanley Pollyn, who made this call in a statement he personally signed and made available to Kristina Reports on Friday, September 10, 2021, further called on both the political and traditional leadership to be proactive in building the capacity of the people of the area, especially, the youths to leverage the opportunities inherent in the project.  

He expressed concern over the adverse environmental impact the project could have if the critical issues associated with it are not addressed before implementation, noting that close attention should be paid to the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the project.  

“Inasmuch as the proposed deep seaport project in Bonny Island will bring about gross economic advantages, social pluses and advancement of Bonny, Rivers State and Nigeria, there are also numerous challenges that are associated with port operations, especially, those that can adversely affect the environment.”

“Port operations can lead to environmental impacts on air, water and land. Many communities with environmental justice concerns also experience disparities in health outcomes that some researchers have attributed, in part, to exposure to emissions from port operations.”

“Port authorities and other port operators have an important role to play in mitigating disproportionately high and adverse impacts to human health or the environment resulting from port projects and operations.”

Pollyn, who refers to himself as “proudly fisherman pikin from Kalaibiama” and “De Loadline”, opined that at completion, the project has the potential of attracting over a trillion Naira annually into the coffers of the Federal Government with multifaced opportunities for employment and investments for Nigerians, and the hosts, in particular.  

He consequently called on the Chairman of Bonny LGA, David Irimagha, the Amanyanabo of Bonny Kingdom, His Majesty, King Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III, Perekule XI, and other leaders in the area to, without delay, initiate the process of securing maritime training for youths of the area to prepare them to participate in both the construction and post construction phases of the project.

“I humbly appeal to the Bonny Local Government Council, our dearly beloved King, His Majesty, King Dr. Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III, Perekule XI, Amanyanabo of Ancient Grand Bonny Kingdom, to majorly invest in the maritime training of our beloved youths of the kingdom, especially in ports operations and management with respect to the forthcoming deep seaport project to the island, so that our youths can secure lucrative positions with attractive salary, instead of becoming more of Stevedores (labourers) at the port.”  

Pollyn’s call is coming days after the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi visited the rescheduled site for the deep seaport project in Finima, in company of the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Magdalene Ajani, and the project contractors, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC).

Kristina Reports has reliably gathered that an EIA Review Meeting for the project has been scheduled for Thursday, September 16, 2021 at Landmark Hotel, Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.