STOP TOXIC WASTES IN KOKO NOW!!!

STOP TOXIC WASTES IN KOKO NOW!!!

BY ABDULMUMINI ADEKU

The Nigerian Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari is being called upon to wade into a row between a company,Ebenco Global Link Limited and the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth over how the former dumped radioactive laden ed  toxic wastes  in Koko Village of Delta State of Nigeria.

In his address to a cross section of the Nigerian Press at the Lagos office of the Environmental Rights Action ,the Executive Director of the agency ,Dr Godwin Uyi Ojo lamented the fact that 30 years after the infamous Koko Toxic saga he was stunned beyond comprehension but to accept the harsh reality that no single lesson will appear to have being learn t from the incident by the nation.

The body which revealed that the toxic wastes crisis started about four months ago when Ebenco Global Link Limited started work at the site insisted that the international firm was either burying the wastes in the ground or dumping them into the Koko River which is a tributary of the Atlantic Ocean.

He assured that the company which was into some forms of Joint venture operations with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation[N.N.P.C.] was in serious trouble as they will do everything within the right hand side of the law to fix the problems they are causing as it relates to environmental degradation.

He noted that owning to several complaints by natives,E.R.A/FoEN with some top researchers extracted soil and water samples from the community which was sent to a certified laboratory  where it was discovered that over a dozen chemicals were dumped wastes.

He pointed out  that from the independent report that they got ,they discovered that such dangerous chemicals like poly nuclear aromatic hydrocarbons,Oil and Grease,Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon ,Betex which comprises of Benzene,Toluene,Ethyl Benzene and Xylene and some heavy metals with values higher than acceptable levels of the Department of Petroleum Resources [D.P.R]and the World Health Organization W.H.O. standards.

His words:”Not only is  ERA/FOEN disturbed by this trend,we are also very alarmed about the Nigerian government seemingly incensitivisation of waste imports and dumping in the country due to the lowering of environmental standards and the lack of compliance of extant environmental laws”

“In the wake of the toxic dumping ,the issue is being discussed in hush tones suggesting conflicts and division in the community as to how to handle the wastes,while some have aligned with the company involved and demanding compensations others insists on the setting up of a commission of inquiry to help unravel the persistence of toxic waste dumping in the Niger Delta axis and in particular Koko Village”

He added that in keeping with the relevant sections  of Section 20 of the 1999 Constitution ,the agency was making the following demands from the Nigerian Federal Government on the matter

…………That the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement  live up to its statutory responsibilities

………….That the Delta State Ministry of the Environment and the Federal Ministry of Environment  should also collaborate for a proper commission of inquiry to unravel the mystery behind the dumping of toxic wastes in Koko Village,Delta State

……………..That Ebenco Global Link Limited be compelled to clean up its mess in Koko and evacuate its hazardous wastes ,including those allegedly buried in large quantities.

………………That Ebenco should pay specified penalties and fines as well as compensations o victims and community people whose land have been contaminated over the toxic  waste issue.