Environmental lawyers in the Niger Delta have
expressed concerns over the looming public health danger occasioned by the
contamination and massive death of fish along the Atlantic coastline of the
region.
The lawyers under the aegis of the Association
of Environmental Lawyers of Nigeria (AELN) urged the Federal Government to take
urgent steps to check the increased toxicity of the nation’s territorial
waters.
Residents along the Atlantic coastline in
Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers have reported massive death of croaker fish floating
and littering the coastline since February.
The group made the call in a joint
statement by Prof. Sam Dike, the President AELN and Mr Iniuro Wills,
the President Ijaw Professionals Association, Homeland chapter in Yenagoa.
Mr Kennedy Woryi, the Secretary, AELN who also
signed the statement, called on the Federal Government to urgently initiate a
full scale independent investigation into the matter with a view to saving
lives.
The association noted that in the last eight
weeks, varying from location to location, communities along the Atlantic coast
in the Niger Delta had been inundated with masses of dead contaminated fishes
washing up on their shores.
”This strange phenomenon portends grave danger
to the affected states and communities as it will further compound the public
health and economic complications that they are still struggling to grapple
with as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
”Due to limited awareness of the health
consequences, rural poverty and slow action by governments at all levels, some
community dwellers have been selling and consuming the dead contaminated
fishes, some of which may find their way into the markets and meal tables, in
neighbouring communities and cities.
”This marine disaster and the global
coronavirus crisis together pose a threat of double jeopardy for Nigeria’s
coastal communities and our territorial marine ecology.
”There is need for quick action by the state
and federal governments to combat the strange and continuing incidence of
masses of dead and contaminated fishes, washing up ashores and beaches along
the Atlantic coast.
“Worst hit are Bonny, Foropa, Sobiekiri,
Okololaunch areas to Light House all the way to Ifoko in Andoni area.
Numerous other coastal communities of the Akassa Kingdom, Twon-Brass and other such
communities in Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta and Akwa Ibom are affected.
“There are reports that coastal communities in
Ondo, Lagos and Cross River States may also be affected,” it said.
It added that some dwellers in the affected
communities have been harvesting and selling these fishes to the general
public.
The group described the development as
unfortunate, saying that the communities and the general public were yet to be
sensitised about the dangers of consuming hazardous dead fish.
According to AELN, the stench of dead
fishes has also polluted the air around the affected communities adding that it
is therefore imperative to ensure the restoration of the ambient air and
polluted marine ecosystem.
”The impact of the disaster extends to most of
the coastal states of Nigeria and will therefore require an inclusive and
cross-cutting plan of action for verification of causation, impact scoping and
adequate remediation.
”It is against this backdrop that we are
calling on the Federal Government to promptly institute a full scale
independent investigation of this marine pollution disaster by a multi
stakeholder panel of experts, reflecting the appropriate environmental and
marine related agencies.
“It should include experts representing
affected communities, relevant state government agencies, the private sector of
the petroleum and marine/maritime industries and credible environmental NGOs.
“This is without prejudice to the ongoing
investigations by various state governments.
”At the conclusion of investigations, all
persons or organisations directly culpable (if any), for this disaster on our
coastal populations, no matter how highly connected, should be brought to book.
“The culprit should be compelled to restore
the environment, pay adequate compensation to all affected communities and face
stiff sanctions.
”We particularly call on the federal and state
governments to take accelerated action on all fronts against this disaster and
the looming danger that official inaction may pose,” the association said.
Meanwhile, the National Oil Spills Detection
and Response Agency (NOSDRA) on Thursday said that its investigations on the
massive death of the fishes had traced the incident to the discharge of toxic
industrial and domestic wastes entering the water bodies.
Mr Idris Musa, the Director-General of the
NOSDRA said that the agency discovered that the dead fishes and water sediments
were polluted by heavy metals in high concentrations beyond regulatory
limits.
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