Forum Blames Rate Of Respiratory Infections On Soot

An inter-disciplinary research meeting on “Urban Resilience To Air Pollution and soot has blamed the rising cases of respiratory infections in the Niger Delta on the prevalence of the soot.
The forum which held in Port Harcourt was sponsored by the Arua Centre of Excellence for Urbanisation and Habitat Cities and University of Lagos
It was funded by the UKRI /Global challenge Research through the network Grant,establishing the African Network for Urbanisation and Habitable cities.
A cross session of participants drawn from the various local government areas of Rivers State also identified some major culprits in the illegal oil activities.
They said the situation has increased poverty, especially among the rural folks.
According to them,some rural dwellers resorted to herbal medicine in a bid to contain the ravaging effect of the soot on them.
They particularly noted that tablets such as,paracetamol has increased in price from N50 to N200,while Vitroline is now sold at N400 from N50.
The participants also said price of frannol  has risen from N50 to N400.
They said even cost of accommodation in Port Harcourt is beyond the reach of the common man.
According to them some of the culprits  include the security agencies, host communities, youths,transportation companies as well as buyers of the products.
They also urged the government to creat employment with a view to directing the attention of the youth from bunkering activities.
They decried the high cost of food stuff supplement and diesel.
Speaking Country Director of Centre for Development Support Initiative, Dr Mina Ogbanga said the group was sponsoring some bills on soot and climate change in the Rivers State House of Assembly.
She said the group was working hard to domesticate the National Act in climate change in the state through the sponsorship of climate change bill .
Ogbanga said the group was desirous in ensuring that the State was free from the soot.
She said the bill against illegal oil bunkering was before the state assembly as well as the state environmental protection amendment bill.
According to her,CEDSI is at the forefront of pushing for the passage of the bill.
She said the National Action plan which Will soon be localised in the state will address issues concerning climate change.
In her words, “CEDSi is looking for a zero soot in Rivers state.The drive is to have zero percent tolerance the soot”.

By: John Bibor & Oribim Ibama