Tag Koko

Experts, community reacts to allege toxic waste in Koko
NAN-HG-3
Toxic
By Edeki Igafe
Warri (Delta),  March 3, 2017 (NAN) Residents of Koko community in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta have been advised to relocate in the interim to avoid harmful effect of the alleged toxic waste dumped in the area.
Some environmentalists and medical experts gave the advice on Friday in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Warri.
Mr Sheriff Mulade, the National Coordinator, Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ), said toxic waste could generate a lot of diseases.
He urged the Koko residents to be calm and allow government to conclude its investigations on the allegation.
“The Environmental Regulatory body has compromised the environmental global best practices and that is why you see the continuous dumping of toxic waste.
“Again, government is not serious about the environment, which is our heritage.
“So, I will advise the government to bring the perpetrators to book while the residents vacate the community in the meantime to avoid contamination of the imminent diseases associated with toxic waste,” he said.
Ebenco Global Link Ltd, the alleged perpetrator of the act, was recently accused of dumping hazardous waste substances in Koko land.
The company had since the agitation banned journalists from having access to it for comment.
Also, Mr Francis-Amoma Monday, an Environmental Consultant, has urged the community to conduct laboratory test to determine the extent of the pollution.
He also advised them to relocate pending when government would carry out remediation in the community.
Monday said there was no laboratory test at the moment to ascertain the level of toxicity in the waste.
He, however, noted that heavy metals in toxic waste had the capacity to affect pregnancy, heart, kidney, miscarriage and other complications.
“It is a criminal offence to dump toxic waste anyhow, it beholds on the company that owns the waste to monitor how the waste is disposed, even though it was given out as contract.
“The company should remove waste and pay compensation.
“Toxic waste can destroy the soil, affect growth of plants and vegetation, underground water and even the air, depending on the porosity; it could go a long distance underground.
“I will advise the people to seek the assistance of experts to know the extent of the pollution, while they relocate pending when government to carry out remediation of the community,” he said.
Mr Raphael Onyemekeihia, a Consultant and Nephrologists at the Central Hospital, Warri, said toxic waste affect both human and the ecosystem.
“The effect of toxic waste depending on the type is worse in pregnant women because it can cause deformity in the unborn babies.
“It can also cause pulmonary problem like cancer of the lungs, pneumonia and other air-borne diseases, Gastrol Intestinal problem like diarrhea and vomiting.
“In addition, toxic waste can also have ripple effect on the environment, the water we drink, stunted growth of plants and aquatic lives.
“Government should subject the people of Koko community to health screening, toxic waste can reduce life expectancy, so Koko people should watch out,” he said.
Mr Gbubemi Thompson, a concerned Koko indigene, told NAN on phone that the community was working out modalities on how to carry out its laboratory analysis on the alleged toxic waste.
“The company said they will carry out laboratory test, but we are not going to rely on their result, we as Koko community is working hard to carry out our own laboratory test, we will also rely on government result.
“Similar things like this has happen before in this community, so we cannot fold our hands and allow things like that to happen again.
“The company is trying to deny it, we want to know why it has not said the truth,” he said.
The management of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) was yet to react to enquiries made by NAN over the development. (NAN)
EDI/KOLE/MST
Edited by Remi Koleoso/Muhammad Suleiman Tola