Pollution time bomb in Nigeria

For 10 years the Baruwa Community, Lagos, Nigeria, have had their right to a clean and safe water supply taken away from them because of serious water pollution by the oil industry.

Baruwa village is just a few kilometres away from the state capital, Ikeja, but the authorities have failed to stop the pipeline leakage in the community. Because of the oil leaks village wells have to be kept under lock and key to prevent a potential fire disaster. Clean safe water is as valuable as gold thanks to pollution caused by the pipelines running across the village. They are owned by the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC).

Water is distributed via water tankers which offload at different locations in the village. The exorbitant prices charged by the water merchants has meant that women and children have to search for alternative sources, often far away and polluted.

As well as pollution, the community live with the smell of petrol. Medical experts have diagnosed health complications. Most of these cases have been directly linked to the contamination problem. Children have rashes and suffer from watery eyes while the elderly suffer from chest infection, dizziness and irritation.

Disappointingly, those responsible have failed to make significant improvements. The corporation has provided three wells with an overhead tank for the community; but even this is unusable for the same reasons.

Pan Africa Vision for the Environment (PAVE) are lobbying the Federal Government, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and the PPMC with letters, rallies and press conferences. They are demanding that their water rights be restored, an alternative source of potable water be provided for the people, and that the pollution problem is addressed.

For more information email ajakpan@yahoo.com