Ogun, Lagos, Rivers communities battle hazardous waste

Residents of some communities within the industrial areas of Ogun, Lagos and Rivers states have raised the alarm over the waste generated by industries of their communities.

The residents, in separate interviews with The PUNCH, mentioned the industries had been producing pollutions, which had been endangering their well being.

At Sango-Ota within the Ado-Odo Ota Native Authorities Space of Ogun State, residents lamented the consequences of liquid waste launched by manufacturing firms within the space.

The residents mentioned the waste, which contained dangerous chemical compounds had contributed considerably to the environmental degradation locally.

Our correspondent, who visited the world on the weekend, noticed how the liquid chemical had eroded the world, inflicting a big gully and damaging individuals’s homes.

It was additionally gathered that the continual impact of the harm had prompted some residents to desert their homes, whereas those that had no place to relocate had been clamouring for the intervention of the state authorities.

One in every of our correspondents noticed how fairly a lot of completely different manufacturing companies, together with chemical companies, clustered across the space.

A resident, Gbenga Abolade, who carried out the correspondent around the affected spots, mentioned the poisonous waste soften the soil, resulting in weathering every time it rained.

Abolade, who owns a home within the space, mentioned, “Many of the drainage passages on this space was small and slim till these firms began to launch their poisonous waste into them. That was when it began increasing.  I’m a home proprietor however I’m presently on the mercy of the corporate because the impact of the poisonous waste had eroded the drainage passage near my home and it’s regularly getting near its basis.  I’ve invested all my financial savings in constructing that home and I can’t afford to lose it as a result of negligence of those firms.’’

Sale of homes

One other resident, Abiodun Olasupo, mentioned, “We’re helpless. The chemical waste is an excessive amount of, and it is available in completely different colors equivalent to inexperienced, yellow and typically black. And in case your leg touches the water, it’s going to begin itching.  Persons are promoting off their homes, and a few are nonetheless searching for patrons. If I’ve my manner, I’ll depart too however I can’t. I’m a widower and my spouse is buried there. We should not have what it takes to problem them. And we don’t have anybody to help and combat for us. That’s the reason we now have simply been them.’’

One of many residents, Segun Abolurin, claimed to have misplaced a plot of land to the harm.

He mentioned, “It isn’t nearly erosion. Even when rain shouldn’t be falling, the water retains coming. I’ve a plot of land behind this home however it has been misplaced to the canal. Many of the firms channel their liquid waste in direction of this space.”

Nevertheless, the businesses near the group have nonetheless denied releasing chemical waste into the group.  A member workers of one of many firms, who pleaded to not be talked about as he was not authorised to talk, mentioned the corporate didn’t launch any chemical waste into the drainage.

He mentioned, “Their declare shouldn’t be true. We produce C02 gasoline used for drinks and our effluence is simply water. There isn’t a chemical in it. We’re not the one firm discharging into this drainage. The liquid waste comes from one other plant behind us. It’s cooling water and our launch is simply little.”

A buyer care consultant of the corporate, who didn’t reveal his id mentioned, “We don’t launch any liquid waste. What we launch is in powdered kind and it’s a colouring that we convert to what’s used for chocolate. So, different firms round us might be answerable for that.”

Nevertheless, the Chairman of the Ijaliye Space Neighborhood Improvement Committee, Balogun Musbau, mentioned, “We’ve been on this concern for a really very long time. Just a few of them have been thoughtful about our plight. The one firm that discharge water when there may be rain and has not been responsive in any respect is Nigeria Distilleries Restricted.”

 Ogun State Commissioner for Info, Waheed Odusile, didn’t reply to calls or a textual content message despatched by our correspondent to his phone.

Additionally, calls and textual content message to the Ogun State Commissioner for Surroundings, Mr. Ola Oresanya, in search of his response weren’t replied as of the time of submitting this report.

Agbara residents lament

Additionally within the state, residents of Korogboji group within the Agbara space alongside Lagos – Sokoto highway decried the scent emanating from the waste dumpsite utilized by firms within the space.

The PUNCH noticed that the dumpsite, which is authorised by the Ogun State Environmental Safety Company for the aim, was crammed with industrial waste.

One in every of our correspondents visited the dumpsite, which has been in existence for greater than 10 years. It was noticed that the refuse dump was near the residential space and that it was producing unhealthy scent. It was additionally noticed that scavengers had been busy accumulating waste.

An indigene of the world, Shina Okuami, mentioned, “I’ve seen kids rushed to the hospital, although I’ve not heard of anybody that died on account of the scent oozing out of the commercial waste on the dumpsite.

“The leaders of the group are supposed to satisfy with the commercial firms dumping the waste on the location and focus on the right manner of disposing of their waste that received’t hurt the residents.”

One other resident, Esther James, a civil servant, mentioned the waste was hazardous and had affected the well being of the residents.

James mentioned, “That is my third 12 months as a tenant locally and I all the time needed to shut my home windows whereas the refuse is being burnt as a result of the odour oozing out is killing.”

A hotelier, Oluwadarasimi Ayininuowo, mentioned the odour impacts his enterprise negatively.

She mentioned, “Not everybody can work in a few of these industries due to the dangerous odour the commercial supplies and the waste emit, and typically, whereas the scavengers are burning the waste, the breeze brings the scent to the resort.

 “The resort turns into crammed with black smoke with a horrible odour and prospects are pressured to flee to the higher chamber of the bar which discourages them from patronizing us subsequent time.”

 A member of the household that owns the land used for the dumpsite, Noah Isaac, instructed The PUNCH that the complaints from the residents had been unfounded and never true.

Isaac mentioned, “l have been staying on this group for the previous 25 years and by no means heard that somebody died on account of the air air pollution. As a supervisor of the dumpsite for Ogun State Waste Administration Authority, I monitor and management the waste dumped right here by the industries.

 “In a number of months’ time after the highway development is accomplished, the waste dump will probably be moved away from right here as there will probably be a tollgate right here.”

 Chatting with considered one of our correspondents, the Baale of Korogboji group, Chief Michael Agoro, mentioned the smoke from the burning of the refuse on the dumpsite often crammed the group.

Agoro mentioned, “It’s the state authorities that allotted the land as a dumpsite for the factories in Agbara and there may be little or nothing we are able to do as regards the air pollution.

“The OGWAMA was answerable for the waste administration of the group and after the dumpsite has been created by the federal government, the residents have additionally been trashing waste there. The dumpsite is reasonably too near the group and I’ll advise the federal government to relocate it for the security and growth of the group.”

Ogun guarantees relocation

 Oresanya, mentioned it was improper to make use of the place for a dumpsite, including that it could be closed down.

 Oresanya mentioned, “It’s improper to make use of that place as a dumpsite. The positioning is an eyesore and we don’t have to attend for the group to complain earlier than we do the needful.

“We’re closing down the dumpsite and relocating it someplace else, however it’s going to stay a recycling centre for materials and waste restoration.

 “The positioning will probably be used for an built-in facility that may profit the group and the brand new website will probably be a way more discreet setting that will probably be secure for everyone.”

At Ilupeju in Lagos, residents instructed considered one of our correspondents that their complaints about air air pollution by firms within the space had not yielded any end result.

Chatting with The PUNCH, the Baale of Ilupeju, Chief Hamzat Alli, confirmed the air pollution, saying, “Persons are complaining that the odour is an excessive amount of and that the businesses are usually not taking good care of the group. The businesses should care for the group. Persons are complaining concerning the chemical compounds these firms use.”

 Requested if anybody complained of contracting ailment on account of the air pollution, he mentioned, “After all they’re contracting all types of illnesses, most particularly cough. Persons are complaining bitterly; they do this in my palace. The complaints get disregarded as soon as they’ve met with these in authorities. The businesses don’t reply to letters. Even once you need to see their human sources supervisor, they’ll refuse you entry.  I’ve tried a number of instances to talk with these in authority on the firms however I used to be denied entry by their safety guards.”

 The Baale, nonetheless, mentioned the water within the neighbourhood was not affected as a result of it was sourced from boreholes.

 Calls put throughout to the Govt Chairman, Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye LCDA, Rasaq Ajala, weren’t answered as of the time of submitting this report.

Nevertheless, the correspondent was in a position to attain the Vice Chairman, Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye LCDA, Seyi Jakande, who mentioned no official complaints had been made on air air pollution.

 “We’ve not obtained something official near to air air pollution. I don’t know if you happen to’ve spoken to the businesses or the residents,” he mentioned.

 Requested if he had personally seen any air pollution by the businesses within the space, he mentioned, “Personally no. You see, the businesses exist in an industrial space. They’ve their areas of operation. They’re referred to as Industrial Crescent and Industrial Avenue in City Planning. These locations are usually not residential. So, I received’t agree that there’s air air pollution inside the residential areas. Personally, I’ve not witnessed it and formally there isn’t a criticism to that impact.”

The Director, Communications and Authorities Affairs, GSK West and Central Africa, Omongiade Ehighebolo, in response to a mail by considered one of our correspondents, mentioned the corporate was not answerable for the air pollution.

He mentioned, “The odour referred to in your mail doesn’t emanate from our firm. The corporate premise has no manufacturing exercise inside and has no chemical compounds dealing with within the premises.”

Rivers residents

In Rivers State, residents of Oginigba, close to Port Harcourt complained of insufferable stench from an organization   within the space.

 Some residents mentioned although they had been used to scent, they knew it was not good for his or her well being.

 A tricycle operator, Samuel Ajuni, mentioned each morning they woke as much as the stench.

Ajuni mentioned, “Each morning the scent will get worse. You possibly can understand it your self. In actual fact, the smells are of two sorts. The primary scent is like beer. You possibly can’t see it however it’s there within the environment.

“The second is a liquid which has mud color and seen within the gutters. We suspected that it was from Worldwide Breweries. So, we went there and complained. They got here to verify it and it stopped. However the scent was dangerous.’’

 On how lengthy it had occurred, he mentioned, “We’ve been dwelling with this beer scent for years now.’’

 Nevertheless, Mr Williams Chima, a local of the group mentioned although it was true that the scent was typically offensive, it has not prompted any hurt to the individuals.

“We live peacefully with the corporate. This agency is our personal oil firm. They’re serving to us with some issues,” he mentioned.

 Some two years in the past, a colony of lifeless fishes floated belly-wise within the Bonny River in Rivers State.

 Folks locally, together with fishermen alleged that it was as a result of some emissions from one of many firms working within the space.

 The Rivers State Authorities intervened and arrange a committee headed by a College Professor after which Commissioner for Surroundings, Roselyn Konya.

The findings and report of the committee by no means noticed the sunshine of the day.