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Residents of some communities in the industrial areas of Ogun, Lagos and Rivers states have raised the alarm over the waste generated by industries in their communities.
The residents, in separate interviews with The PUNCH, said the industries were generating pollutions, which were endangering their health.
At Sango-Ota in the Ado-Odo Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State, residents lamented the effects of liquid waste released by manufacturing companies in the area.
The residents said the waste, which contained harmful chemicals had contributed significantly to the environmental degradation in the community.
Our correspondent, who visited the area at the weekend, saw how the liquid chemical had eroded the area, causing a large gully and damaging people’s houses.
It was also gathered that the continuous effect of the damage had caused some residents to abandon their houses, while those who had no place to relocate had been clamouring for the intervention of the state government.
One of our correspondents observed how quite a number of different manufacturing firms, including chemical firms, clustered around the area.
A resident, Gbenga Abolade, who conducted the correspondent round the affected spots, said the toxic waste soften the soil, leading to weathering whenever it rained.
Abolade, who owns a house in the area, said, “Most of the drainage passages in this area used to be small and narrow until these companies started to release their toxic waste into them. That was when it started expanding. I am a house owner but I am currently at the mercy of the company as the effect of the toxic waste had eroded the drainage passage close to my house and it is gradually getting close to its foundation. I have invested all my savings in building that house and I cannot afford to lose it due to the negligence of these companies.’’
Sale of houses
Another resident, Abiodun Olasupo, said, “We are helpless. The chemical waste is too much, and it comes in different colours such as green, yellow and sometimes black. And if your leg touches the water, it will start itching. People are selling off their houses, and some are still looking for buyers. If I have my way, I will leave too but I can’t. I’m a widower and my wife is buried there. We do not have what it takes to challenge them. And we don’t have anyone to support and fight for us. That is why we have just been looking at them.’’
One of the residents, Segun Abolurin, claimed to have lost a plot of land to the damage.
He said, “It is not just about erosion. Even if rain is not falling, the water keeps coming. I have a plot of land behind this house but it has been lost to the canal. Most of the companies channel their liquid waste towards this area.”
However, the companies close to the community have however denied releasing chemical waste into the community. A member staff of one of the companies, who pleaded not to be mentioned as he was not authorised to speak, said the company did not release any chemical waste into the drainage.
He said, “Their claim is not true. We produce C02 gas used for beverages and our effluence is just water. There is no chemical in it. We are not the only company discharging into this drainage. The liquid waste comes from another plant behind us. It is cooling water and our release is just little.”
A customer care representative of the company, who did not reveal his identity said, “We do not release any liquid waste. What we release is in powdered form and it is a colouring that we convert to what is used for chocolate. So, other companies around us could be responsible for that.”
However, the Chairman of the Ijaliye Area Community Development Committee, Balogun Musbau, said, “We have been on this issue for a very long time. Only a few of them have been considerate about our plight. The only company that discharge water when there is rain and has not been responsive at all is Nigeria Distilleries Limited.”
Ogun State Commissioner for Information, Waheed Odusile, did not respond to calls or a text message sent by our correspondent to his telephone.
Also, calls and text message to the Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Ola Oresanya, seeking his reaction were not replied as of the time of filing this report.
Agbara residents lament
Also in the state, residents of Korogboji community in the Agbara area along Lagos – Sokoto road decried the smell emanating from the waste dumpsite used by companies in the area.
The PUNCH observed that the dumpsite, which is approved by the Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency for the purpose, was filled with industrial waste.
One of our correspondents visited the dumpsite, which has been in existence for more than 10 years. It was observed that the refuse dump was close to the residential area and that it was producing unhealthy smell. It was also observed that scavengers were busy collecting waste.
An indigene of the area, Shina Okuami, said, “I have seen children rushed to the hospital, though I have not heard of anyone that died as a result of the smell oozing out of the industrial waste on the dumpsite.
“The leaders of the community are supposed to meet with the industrial companies dumping the waste on the site and discuss the proper way of disposing of their waste that won’t harm the residents.”
Another resident, Esther James, a civil servant, said the waste was hazardous and had affected the health of the residents.
James said, “This is my third year as a tenant in the community and I always had to close my windows while the refuse is being burnt because the odour oozing out is killing.”
A hotelier, Oluwadarasimi Ayininuowo, said the odour affects his business negatively.
She said, “Not everyone can work in some of these industries because of the bad odour the industrial materials and the waste emit, and sometimes, while the scavengers are burning the waste, the breeze brings the smell to the hotel.
“The hotel becomes filled with black smoke with a terrible odour and customers are forced to flee to the upper chamber of the bar which discourages them from patronizing us next time.”
A member of the family that owns the land used for the dumpsite, Noah Isaac, told The PUNCH that the complaints from the residents were unfounded and not true.
Isaac said, “l have been staying in this community for the past 25 years and never heard that someone died as a result of the air pollution. As a supervisor of the dumpsite for Ogun State Waste Management Authority, I monitor and control the waste dumped here by the industries.
“In a few months’ time after the road construction is completed, the waste dump will be moved away from here as there will be a tollgate here.”
Speaking to one of our correspondents, the Baale of Korogboji community, Chief Michael Agoro, said the smoke from the burning of the refuse at the dumpsite usually filled the community.
Agoro said, “It is the state government that allocated the land as a dumpsite for the factories in Agbara and there is little or nothing we can do as regards the pollution.
“The OGWAMA used to be responsible for the waste management of the community and after the dumpsite has been created by the government, the residents have also been trashing waste there. The dumpsite is rather too close to the community and I will advise the government to relocate it for the safety and development of the community.”
Ogun promises relocation
Oresanya, said it was wrong to use the place for a dumpsite, adding that it would be closed down.
Oresanya said, “It is wrong to use that place as a dumpsite. The site is an eyesore and we don’t have to wait for the community to complain before we do the needful.
“We are closing down the dumpsite and relocating it somewhere else, but it will remain a recycling centre for material and waste recovery.
“The site will be used for an integrated facility that will benefit the community and the new site will be a much more discreet environment that will be safe for everybody.”
At Ilupeju in Lagos, residents told one of our correspondents that their complaints about air pollution by companies in the area had not yielded any result.
Speaking to The PUNCH, the Baale of Ilupeju, Chief Hamzat Alli, confirmed the pollution, saying, “People are complaining that the odour is too much and that the companies are not taking care of the community. The companies ought to take care of the community. People are complaining about the chemicals those companies use.”
Asked if anyone complained of contracting ailment as a result of the pollution, he said, “Of course they are contracting all kinds of ailments, most especially cough. People are complaining bitterly; they do that in my palace. The complaints get disregarded once they have met with those in authorities. The companies don’t reply to letters. Even when you want to see their human resources manager, they’ll refuse you access. I have tried several times to speak with those in authority at the companies but I was denied access by their security guards.”
The Baale, however, said the water in the neighbourhood was not affected because it was sourced from boreholes.
Calls put across to the Executive Chairman, Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye LCDA, Rasaq Ajala, were not answered as of the time of filing this report.
However, the correspondent was able to reach the Vice Chairman, Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye LCDA, Seyi Jakande, who said no official complaints had been made on air pollution.
“We’ve not received anything official as regards to air pollution. I don’t know if you’ve spoken to the companies or the residents,” he said.
Asked if he had personally noticed any pollution by the companies in the area, he said, “Personally no. You see, the companies exist in an industrial area. They have their areas of operation. They are called Industrial Crescent and Industrial Street in Town Planning. Those places are not residential. So, I won’t agree that there is air pollution within the residential areas. Personally, I’ve not witnessed it and officially there is no complaint to that effect.”
The Director, Communications and Government Affairs, GSK West and Central Africa, Omongiade Ehighebolo, in response to a mail by one of our correspondents, said the company was not responsible for the pollution.
He said, “The odour referred to in your mail does not emanate from our company. The company premise has no manufacturing activity within and has no chemicals handling in the premises.”
Rivers residents
In Rivers State, residents of Oginigba, near Port Harcourt complained of unbearable stench from a company in the area.
Some residents said though they were used to smell, they knew it was not good for their health.
A tricycle operator, Samuel Ajuni, said every morning they woke up to the stench.
Ajuni said, “Every morning the smell gets worse. You can perceive it yourself. In fact, the smells are of two types. The first smell is like beer. You can’t see it but it is there in the atmosphere.
“The second one is a liquid which has mud colour and seen in the gutters. We suspected that it was from International Breweries. So, we went there and complained. They came to check it and it stopped. But the smell was bad.’’
On how long it had occurred, he said, “We have been living with this beer smell for years now.’’
However, Mr Williams Chima, a native of the community said though it was true that the smell was sometimes offensive, it has not caused any harm to the people.
“We are living peacefully with the company. This firm is our own oil company. They are helping us with some things,” he said.
Some two years ago, a colony of dead fishes floated belly-wise in the Bonny River in Rivers State.
People in the community, including fishermen alleged that it was due to some emissions from one of the companies operating in the area.
The Rivers State Government intervened and set up a committee headed by a University Professor and then Commissioner for Environment, Roselyn Konya.
The findings and report of the committee never saw the light of the day.
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