News
Stop Discharging Into Oginigba River, RSG Tells NBC …Reiterates Ban On Use Of Tyres For Meat Processing
The Rivers State Government has warned the Nigeria Bottling Company (NBC), owners of Coca Cola to stop its discharge of water into the Oginigba river.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Pollution Control, Hon Nwuke Anucha, during a visit to the company, last Friday, warned on the health hazards of the discharge to residents of the area and to aquatic life.
Anucha advised the management of the company to ensure that its wastes are properly packaged and discharged.
His words: “We discovered that the Coca Cola waste pipe that is channelled into the river stopped half way and it was causing serious erosion and we feel that is not good for those that are working around here that is why we are here.
We have given them a one month ultimatum to do the proper thing to build an enduring pipe that will not break easily and we are believing that they have to do it.
You do business, you make your profit, but your surrounding environment should also live healthy,” Anucha added.
The Acting Plant Manager of NBC, Awodu Joseph Ita declined comment on the issue when approached by journalists.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Ministry of Health has warned that the discharge of waste water, chemicals and oil substances into the river and other sources of drinking water contributes to the health problems in the State.
The Director, Public Health Service in the Rivers State, Ministry of Health, Dr Nnanna Onyekwere said this in reaction to the discharge of waste water into the river by companies operating in Trans Amadi.
Dr Onyekwere, who accompanied the Special Adviser to the Governor on Pollution Control on visits to some companies in Trans Amadi said the indiscriminate discharge of waste water and other substances into rivers in the state must stop.
His words: “It is not the best practice to discharge waste water from your operations into the open river and so, there is need for an environment consultant to check the content of that water that is being discharged into the river to ensure it is safe”.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Government has frowned at the continued use of tyres in processing meat for consumption in abattoirs in the State.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Nweke Adolphus reiterated that the use of tyres in processing meat for consumption is prohibited in the State.
Adolphus made this declaration last Friday during an inspection of the Oginigba Trans-Amadi Slaughter, in company of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Caroline Wali.
He said the use of tyres to process meat is a huge health risk.
His words: “Our concern has been the use of tyre to burn the skin of the animal. There are lots of improvements that need to be done.
One is, we have to make efforts to normalise the burning and also to employ other avenues whereby we can also improve to make sure that this desire to stop the use of tyre is totally met and we’ll all do our best.
We should be very very careful with the kind of meat we give to the public,” Adolphus added.
Susan Serekara-Nwikhana
Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has called on Nigerians to reject silence in the face of extrajudicial killings and other abuses of human rights.
Soyinka stressed that accountability and civic courage remain essential to rebuilding public confidence in the nation’s institutions.
He made the call during the 28th Wole Soyinka Lecture held in Port Harcourt, last Friday as part of activities marking his 92nd birthday.
The lecture, themed “Reclaiming the Nigerian State through Accountability, Justice and Civic Courage,” drew participants from different sectors of society.
The renowned playwright and human rights advocate said the country’s greatest tragedy was not only the unlawful killings carried out by state and non-state actors, but also the silence that often follows such incidents, allowing perpetrators to evade justice.
According to him, indifference by citizens to abuses of power and violations of fundamental human rights has contributed to the persistence of extrajudicial killings and other forms of injustice across the country.
Soyinka said he dedicated this year’s lecture to victims of unlawful killings, noting that the event was intended to honour individuals who had lost their lives as a result of failures within the justice system and society’s inability to protect the sanctity of human life.
He stressed that the lecture was dedicated to what he described as the basic unit of every society – the human being, and urged Nigerians to place greater value on human dignity irrespective of ethnicity, religion or social status.
The Nobel Laureate recalled several incidents of violence, including the fatal shooting and killing of a young man in Ugheli in Delta State by a police officer, and the mob killing of Deborah Yakubu in Sokoto State sometime ago, lamenting that many of those responsible are yet to face justice.
He expressed concern that some perpetrators of violent crimes had openly admitted their actions without fear of prosecution, describing such situations as evidence of serious failures within the nation’s justice system.
Soyinka maintained that when justice is delayed or denied, public confidence in state institutions continues to erode, thereby encouraging further violations of human rights.
Responding to critics who accuse him of promoting religious or ethnic divisions whenever he spoke on such issues, Soyinka dismissed the allegations and pointed out that his advocacy has always centred on the protection of human life and the rule of law.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and continue demanding justice in cases of alleged extrajudicial killings, including the recent shooting of a young man by a police officer, stressing that every life deserves equal protection under the law.
The literary icon also recalled an earlier pledge by a past incoming president to make public the files relating to unresolved assassinations and extrajudicial killings, questioning the status of the promised investigations.
He challenged citizens to continue asking questions about unresolved cases, insisting that justice, accountability and respect for human dignity are indispensable to building a peaceful, democratic and inclusive Nigerian society.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has clarified that there was no fire at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, contrary to its earlier advisory.
Earlier yesterday, FAAN had announced that a fire incident had occurred at Terminal 2 of the nation’s busiest airport, and assured that its Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Service had been deployed to contain the situation.
There were also reports that activities were briefly disrupted at the airport yesterday after smoke was seen inside parts of the terminal.
Videos circulating online showed passengers kept standing outside the terminal while firefighters responded to the incident.
However, in an update issued less than two hours later by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, and posted on FAAN’s official X handle, the authority said preliminary findings showed that the smoke seen at the terminal was caused by the discharge of the facility’s FM-200 fire suppression system.
“Further to our earlier advisory regarding the incident at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) wishes to provide the following update,” the statement read.
“Preliminary findings indicate that there was no fire at the terminal. The smoke observed within the affected area resulted from the discharge of the terminal’s FM-200 fire suppression system. The reason for the activation of the fire suppression system is currently being investigated,” FAAN stated.
The authority said normal operations had resumed at the terminal while investigations were ongoing to determine the cause of the incident.
“Normal operations have since resumed at the terminal, while detailed investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident,” the statement added.
The authority thanked passengers, airlines, airport users and other stakeholders for their understanding and cooperation.
FAAN appreciated the understanding and cooperation of passengers, airlines, airport users and all stakeholders, and reiterated its commitment to the safety and security of all airport operations.