Mulade Warns Delta Faces Environmental Crisis, Urges Action On Unregulated Dredging
Mulade Calls for Urgent Government Action to Address Dredging and Flood Threats in Delta
Advocate Warns of Growing Environmental Risks
ENVIRONMENTAL and peace advocate, Chief (Comrade) Mulade Sheriff, PhD, has cautioned that Delta State could face serious environmental and infrastructural challenges if urgent measures are not taken to regulate dredging activities and strengthen flood prevention strategies across the state.
The Delta-born environmental campaigner appealed to Governor Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori to prioritise environmental protection by implementing proactive policies capable of safeguarding communities, roads, bridges and other public assets from the increasing threats posed by environmental degradation.
According to Mulade, rapid urban development and expanding dredging operations require stronger regulatory oversight to prevent long-term ecological damage and protect critical infrastructure.
Concerns Over Dredging Near Roads and Bridges
Mulade expressed concern over what he described as increasing dredging activities taking place close to major roads, bridges and other strategic infrastructure without adequate environmental safeguards.
He argued that excessive excavation near these structures could weaken surrounding soil formations, heightening the risk of erosion, flooding and structural instability.
“The state government cannot continue to overlook the environmental implications of indiscriminate dredging. Roads and bridges are strategic public assets relied upon daily by millions of people. If their structural integrity is compromised, the consequences could be severe,” he warned.
He stressed that environmental protection should remain an essential component of infrastructure planning and economic development.
Calls for Stronger Regulation and Scientific Assessment
The environmental advocate urged the Delta State Ministry of Environment and other relevant regulatory agencies to intensify monitoring of dredging activities across the state.
He recommended stricter enforcement of environmental regulations while insisting that dredging operators should comply with approved standards and internationally recognised environmental practices.
Mulade also called for comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and geotechnical investigations before new dredging activities commence or existing operations are expanded.
According to him, identifying environmentally vulnerable locations before damage occurs is significantly less costly than repairing failed infrastructure after disasters.
“The cost of prevention is always lower than the cost of reconstruction when infrastructure collapses,” he stated.
Community Participation in Flood Prevention
Beyond regulatory reforms, Mulade advocated greater community involvement in environmental management.
He proposed the establishment of community-based flood volunteer networks capable of supporting early warning systems and improving emergency preparedness during periods of heavy rainfall.
He also urged government to increase investment in drainage infrastructure, effective water channels and sustainable flood-control projects rather than concentrating resources on short-term interventions that fail to address underlying environmental challenges.
Appeal for Coordinated Environmental Governance
Mulade called for closer collaboration among government ministries, environmental agencies, local government councils and traditional institutions in promoting sustainable environmental governance.
He warned that failure to strengthen environmental regulation could expose communities to severe flooding, erosion, infrastructure failures and avoidable economic losses.
Despite the concerns raised, the environmental advocate expressed confidence that proactive leadership, effective regulation and sustained community participation could enable Delta State to balance economic development with long-term environmental sustainability.
