Dumping: Toxic Waste Kaduna Assembly Exonerates Refinery

The Kaduna State House Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, has exonerated the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company (KRPC), of alleged dumping of toxic waste at Rido village, near Kaduna.

The committee in its report submitted to the assembly on Tuesday, said laboratory evidences had confirmed that the waste dumped in the village “was not toxic so had no health or environmental hazards”.

It also submitted that there were no medical evidences to prove that the death of one Liberty Madaki and 800 birds at Biams Integrated Farms were linked to the waste material.

The report, presented by the Deputy Chairman of the committee, Mr Labari Tella, blamed the company engaged by KRPC of ignoring “specific dump sites” approved by the state Environmental Protection Agency (KEPA).

It also accused the company of doing a shoddy job by shunning laid down regulations, adding that “the dumping was done haphazardly without the consent of the KRPC”.

The committee, however, berated the refining company for failing to ensure strict supervision and monitoring of the contractor engaged to evacuate the waste.

It said the company must henceforth ensure strict compliance to existing environmental laws in disposing its industrial waste.

The report recommended that the KEPA be directed by the House to ensure strict compliance to environmental laws by companies operating in the state, and to enforce sanction on defaulters.

Our correspondent reports that the five-man committee was mandated by the House on July 10 this year, to ascertain the veracity of reports on the incident, determine its effect on the community and make appropriate recommendations.

The assembly, presided by the Speaker, Alhaji Muazu Gangara, however, did not fix any date for consideration of the report.