ASHENEWS reports that residents of Gidan Madara and Dadin Kowa Estate in Minna, Niger State, have raised alarms over harmful emissions from two factories in the area, Golden Age Table Water and Polymer Nigeria Limited, a plastic production and recycling factory operating in their area.
The residents made their grievances known in a petition submitted to the Niger State Government through the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change.
The petition, titled “Petition for Quick Intervention to Save Our Souls from Noxious Chemicals, Plastic Fumes, and Soot Pollution,” was signed by over 45 residents of the area, including former Secretary to the State Government Ahmed Matane, Dr. Ibrahim Kolo, Professor Salihu Niworu, and Mr. Lucky Barau.
This online platform reports that the factories, located in a densely populated residential area near the former Minna city gate, produce sachet and bottled water, as well as plastics such as buckets, plates, and cutlery.
The residents, in the petition alleged that emissions from the facility are severely degrading air quality and causing significant health risks.
The petitioners also alleged that the factory’s operations have led to a risk in respiratory diseases, cardiovascular issues, and other ailments among residents.
“The ambient air quality at Gidan Madara and Dadin Kowa Estate has been degraded. Nigeria ranks third among 10 countries with annual premature air pollution-related deaths.
“This is the environmental injustice that we, the residents of Gidan Madara and Dadin Kowa Estate have suffered from Golden Age Plastics melting and Recycling facility since 2019.
“All efforts made to get the proprietor of the factory to stop air pollution with noxious chemicals, plastic fumes and soot have failed. He is suffocating us and killing us gradually while he goes home to enjoy clean air.
“We are exposed to risks of blood poisoning and premature death from cardiovascular organ failure. We suffer asphyxiation (insufficient oxygen) day and night, and some residents of Gidan Madara have already developed respiratory diseases like asthma, chronic catarrh, cough, chest pain and insomnia.”
They equally lamented the adverse effects of pollution on schools, businesses, and children in the vicinity.
“Our community’s right to clean air has been violated. This is an environmental injustice,” the residents stated, emphasizing that the area is not zoned for industrial activities.
“There is no guarantee that the innocent students of Himma International College, Redeemer’s Academy, Royal Ideal Schools, frequent visitors to Trade Fair complex, casual employees in Golden Age water factory, our children and grandchildren will ever live productive lives, having had their organs contaminated with toxins, furans, dioxins and hard metals that are carcinogenic and capable of endocrine disruption.”
The petitioners added that residents have previously raised concerns to relevant state and federal authorities none of which has yielded positive outcomes.
“We appeal to the Commissioner to protect our fundamental human rights to life and inalienable access to clean air in tandem with SDG 3 for good health and well-being.
“We are not opposed to investment, but utterly reject any investment that threatens our health and right to life. We have endured enough. For peaceful co-existence in the neighbourhood, kindly save us from further pollution and premature death. We cannot enjoy quality sleep at night or fresh air in the daytime. We are dying gradually,” the petition read.
In response, the CEO of Golden Age Plastic Factory, Anthony Okoli, denied the allegations, stating that the factory complies with all environmental standards.
Okoli, while dismissing claims that the facility poses harm to the community said that the factory recently acquired new equipment to minimize emissions.
“We have taken all necessary precautions in safeguarding the community where we operate. We are not doing things to affect the lives of the neighbourhood. I have all the clearance from all relevant ministries and agencies permitting me to operate in the community. I even brought a new machine to stem any pollution that our activities .at be emitting,” he stated.
