A decade ago, emanation of black residues from the illegal activities of makeshift artisanal refineries by oil bunkers was reported in Port Harcourt. However, the elimination of these illicit activities remain unachieved. The federal and state governments have made several promises and efforts to put an end to the activities but the region is still unable to receive freedom from the dangers of illegal bunkering activities in it’s environment. In 2022, Nigeria was projected to lose between N30 trillion to N60 trillion every year to illicit refining and oil theft.
The Nigerian economy has suffered more economic frailties through loss of revenue to oil theft while the people of Port Harcourt become vulnerable to killer diseases plunged into the air and water in the state by the resultant pollution. Dr. Bieye Renner Briggs, a Public Health Physician and an Environmental Advocate in Port Harcourt, asserted that many residents in the affected Port Harcourt communities are aware of the dangers of soot but oblivious of how worse it could become. As a result, Port Harcourt residents are regularly diagnosed of soot-related diseases like cancerous growths, eye and skin irritations, birth defects and miscarriages.
Residents are exposed to deadly respiratory tract infections.
Indiscriminate operations of oil bunkers, burning of waste and other activities carried out by security operatives has often made Port Harcourt record an air quality index (AQI) above 155. According to global health organizations, it is an indication of health emergency because any AQI above 150 is regarded unhealthy. The homes of residents are usually covered in a thick fog of black powdery particles and as a result, they are easily exposed to deadly respiratory tract infections and cardiovascular issues like pneumonia, bronchitis and asthma. In worse cases, they fall victims of skin cancer, premature deaths and preterm births.
It has been discovered that awareness in the grassroots concerning the dangers of contaminated air and water to the health is very low. Also, research has it that the inability to eliminate the soot pandemic in Port Harcourt is not as a result of a lack of effort. Governor Nyesom Wike, after assuming governorship seat, ridded Rivers State of pipeline vandalism and illicit refining activities. His administration also enacted the Rivers State Environment Protection and Management Law in 2019 to combat the issue and make culprits face the wrath of the law.
Rivers State gov’t should audit damage done to the health of residents.
Recently, the Rivers State governor read the riot act to doers of the hazardous business after which he led a raid of indiscriminate refining sites in forests of the Ogbodo community in Ikwerre Local Government Area and Ibaa community in Emohua Local Government Area. Despite the clampdown on illegal refinery operators in local communities and reduction in their activities, Port Harcourt is yet to be soot-free. However, the governor, in a bid to ensure positive results of his efforts, accused security agencies of sabotaging his efforts by protecting illicit refineries in his governed state.
According to Dr. Eugene, Founder of the Extra Step Initiative, after six decades of Rivers State being the base of the hydrocarbon industry and the deadly activities of the non-state actors, the Rivers State Government with support from external forces should be at the forefront of the charge to audit the damages to flora and fauna and the respiratory health of Port Harcourt residents and host communities from the operations of legal and illegal refining of crude oil. This will be done to reduce the rate of cancer and respiratory failure among children, pregnant women and indigent residents.
Soot City will help residents pay attention to their health.
Additionally, a health campaign to assist soot-exposed Port Harcourt residents determine their life expectancy, named Soot City, is ready to begin. The campaign will serve as a reality check for locals who do not pay enough attention to the soot impact on their health. The Founder and CEO of X3M Ideas, Steve Babaeko, said that residents need to be aware of the actual impact of soot damages and its ability to kill slowly which is the motif behind Soot City. The campaign gives residents access to appeal to Senators and lawmakers in the South-south region to take immediate actions for mitigation and eradication of soot.
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Eradication of soot in Port Harcourt. – Illegal bunkering affect Nigerian economy and endanger the lives of residents. – Express your point of view.
The people continue to suffer from the danger the extraction of crude oil poses. I hope the rivers state government especially look for a lasting solution to tackle this issue of soot.
I’m not surprised the governments haven’t fulfill promises made to put in efforts to put end the discussed activities. I do not expect anything good from them. Let’s hope for a better gov’t.
The federal and state governments have repeatedly promised and attempted to cease the operations, but the region is still not safe from the risks associated with illicit bunkering.
At Port Harcourt, it was alleged that black residues were being released as a result of the unlawful activities of makeshift artisanal refineries that were being operated by oil bunkers.
As a result of oil theft, Nigeria’s economy has shrunk and the residents of Port Harcourt have been exposed to deadly diseases that have spread through the city’s polluted air and water.
Residents of Port Harcourt frequently receive diagnoses of ailments associated to soot exposure, including as malignant growths, eye irritations, and skin rashes.
Residents’ dwellings are typically shrouded in a dense fog of black powdery particles, and as a consequence, they are at an increased risk of contracting life-threatening respiratory tract infections and cardiovascular conditions such as pneumonia, bronchitis, and asthma.
The problem cause by illegal bunkering to the country is enormous and government doesn’t take much step to curb or eradicate it completely because most of the government officials are involve in the illegal act.
Residents can use the campaign to lobby Senators and politicians in the South-south region to take prompt action toward soot mitigation and eradication.
This is going to be done in order to lower the rates of cancer and respiratory failure that are seen in youngsters, pregnant women, and individuals living in poverty.
This activities that is inconvenient the people should be put to stop and it also affect the economy of the country it should be stopped
The marginalization of these regions has led to the emergence of illegal oil bunkers which has resulted in economic retardation of the country and the release of carbon soot in the surrounding environment endangering lives. Government should look for lasting solution to this situation.
Unauthorized improvised artisanal refineries allegedly run by oil bunkers were responsible for the illegal emission of black wastes in Port Harcourt.
Due to their marginalization, these areas have seen the rise of illicit oil bunkers, which has slowed the country’s economy and released carbon soot into the environment, posing a threat to human health.
The danger that comes with crude oil production remains a problem for the people. I’m crossing my fingers that the government of the rivers state actively seeks for a long-term answer to the soot problem.
The government should please act fast in eradicating the soot in Port Harcourt because it is putting a lot of lives in danger and for the oil bunkering problem government should do the needful to resolve the situation.
The federal and state governments have made a number of commitments and efforts to stop the operations, but the area is still unable to be liberated from the hazards of illegal bunkering activities in its surroundings.
It is not surprising to me that the governments have not followed through on their commitments to make steps to put a halt to the activities under discussion. I have no hopes for anything positive from them. In the hopes of a better government.
The risk associated with crude oil production continues to have negative effects on the population. To the state governments of the rivers, I hope you look for a long-term answer to the soot problem.
Government failed the duty as government which resulted Illegal bunkering in Nigeria.