A group of environmental rights activists, the Itsekiri Environmental and Human Rights Group (IEHRG), has urged the Federal Government to seal off the site of an alleged toxic waste dump in Koko, Warri North Council Area of Delta State.
The group, in a statement, alleged that in a bid to cover up the truth about the dumping of the toxic waste in the community, the company that brought the suspected dangerous substances to the community, Ebenco Global Link Limited, had started burying them in the site of the dump.
Some community sources, weeks ago, raised the alarm over the continued dumping of substances suspected to be toxic waste in the community by the company, raising fears of compounded health hazard for the people of the community, who had had to live with the effect of a similar toxic wastes, which were imported from Italy in 1987/1988.
According to the group, which claimed to have done some laboratory tests on samples of the substance and had confirmed they are toxic, while some leaders of Koko community, it claimed were beneficiaries of the company, had been working hard to help the company in its cover-up scheme, some officials of the federal government agency that ought to have taken action against the development had allegedly been compromised.
It, however noted that the resort to cover up and burying the toxic materials in the soil of the community would hasten the damaging of the ecosystem in the area and expose the people to hazard more quickly, hence the need for government to swing into action immediately and stop the ongoing dangerous activity in the community.
“The irony of the matter is that some Koko community leaders and residents are aiding, abetting and supporting Ebenco in the cover up of the criminal dumping of highly toxic and carcinogenic wastes in their town because they are on the payroll of the company and its backers. We also understand that some officers of the regulatory body that were sent to the site were alleged to have been compromised.
“As at Tuesday, February 28, 2017, the company, Ebenco has heaped tons of sand on the dumped site and used bulldozers to grind and press the toxic wastes into the ground perhaps unknowingly hastening the seeping of the toxic and carcinogenic materials into the underground water system. The intention of the company is to create an impression that there is no toxic waste dumped at the site because the pits have been covered with sand.
“It is evident that the exposure of the company’s activities in Koko has kicked in a survival instinct which has resulted in high spending, cover up and other criminal activities.
“The government has responsibility to the people of Koko. It must take immediate and positive action on the unfortunate occurrences in Koko. The place should be sealed up, while Government is conducting its investigation.
“The time lapse since we raised an alarm and petitioned the Federal Ministry of Environment has given the company the opportunity to think that it can cover up the criminal dumping of toxic and carcinogenic waste in Koko community. In the mean time, the company is busy hoodwinking the locals and corrupt local government officials”, the group said.
The House of Representatives, on Wednesday in Abuja, passed a resolution to investigate the dumping of toxic waste in Koko community in Warri, Delta, to avert failure of human organs.
The House also mandated its Committees on Environment and Habitat, Petroleum Resources (Downstream) and Gas Resources to investigate the extent of the environmental impact of the toxic waste on the community.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion titled “Need to Investigate the Dumping of Toxic Waste in Koko Community of Warri Federal Constituency of Delta State,’’ sponsored by Rep. Daniel Reyenieju (PDP-Delta).
Moving the motion, Reyenieju recalled that in June 1988, toxic waste was dumped in Koko which resulted to illnesses and environmental damages to aquatic life of the people.
He expressed concern that apart from the incidence that happened in 1988, there was recurrence in 2017 which violates the environmental guideline and standard for the petroleum industry in Nigeria.
The lawmaker said 80 per cent of oily sludge is considered hazardous because of the presence of toxic organics such as aromatics, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and complex compounds with very high molecular weights.
“The consumption or absorption of toxic and carcinogenic contaminants by plants and lower animals will ultimately lead to bioaccumulation in humans from food chain in nature which will result in failure of organs and ultimately death.
“During the rainy season, surface and underground water which is the source of drinking water for the people is gravely contaminated through seepage of toxic and carcinogenic substances into aquifer.
“The area around the dump site is residential and a primary school, with its numerous pupils and teachers, also share a common perimeter fence with the dump site facility,’’ Reyenieju said.
The House mandated the relevant committees to report back their findings within four weeks for further legislative action.