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Kaduna residents accuse refinery of pollution

By on April 10, 2014

Some residents of Tsaunin Kura GRA, Unguwan Bulus, Kantin Aga and Unguwan Matari in Kaduna State have expressed worry over poisonous substances being emitted from the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company.

The residents complained that the pollution was making life unbearable for them.

A resident of Tsaunin Kura GRA, Mr Jonah Isua, said the odour from the substances being released by the KRPC was making breathing difficult for them.

“If we are eating, it is like we are swallowing the substance along with the food. If you keep water in an open basin it will be covered by soot-like substance.

“Every morning and evening, the gas always covers the area like dangerous mist, making it difficult for us to breath,” he said.

A poultry farmer at Kamazoo, Grace Tachio, said the emission was affecting her birds, making them not to eat well.

“We are calling on the government and management of Kaduna refinery to take immediate measures to stop the gas flaring, because what we are inhaling is poisonous and capable of killing us all,” she said.

Also, another resident, Ronti George said, “Industrial pollution now deserves due attention from environmentalists in the state.

“I am surprised that this has been happening for weeks now and nobody has said or done anything about it.”

In his reaction, the Coordinator, National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency in the state, Malam Sherif Ibrahim, said the agency was already looking into the problem.

“The issue of gas flaring is affecting the environment and we are on top of the situation.

“We are assuring the residents of the area that we will meet and advise the management of the refinery on the problem,” he said.

Responding to the complaints, the Public Affairs Manager of KRPC, Alhaji Abdullahi Idris, acknowledged the problem but said measures had been taken by the company to address it.

According to him, the the substance being released into the environment is not toxic and therefore not be harmful.

He said, “It was released inadvertently. We have identified the source of the leak and we are in the process of clean up.”

Idris said the company was working in collaboration with officials of NESREA, and the state Environmental Protection Agency to clean up the area.

 

 

[Punch]