Blessing Iruoma
The Kereken Kwuri Boue community in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State has staged a peaceful protest to raise awareness over decades of environmental pollution that has destroyed their means of livelihood, causing rampant death of both human and livestock.
The paramount ruler of the community, his council of Chiefs and Elders, men, women and youth groups turnout in their numbers to express their dismay over what they described as sad environmental situation existed in the community for years.
The community paramount ruler Chief Ezekiel Gara-loo said the community has suffered many years of crude oil spills and air pollution from the activities of the oil companies.
He expressed, “it is only the negative effect of the oil business that my community experience. They are mining the oil and collecting the billions of dollars why emitting the hydrocarbon and poisonous gas into my community”.
The paramount ruler who lamented the neglect of the community by the government, said there is no government presence in the community as the community is not accessible due to the deplorable state of the road, no school, electricity or potable water.
He said that his people are dying as a result of the pollution that is before them.
Also speaking at the protest, Chief Ledee T. Tordee, Chairman Kereken Kwuri Boue council of Chiefs and Elders explained that “the community was enjoying it rich natural resource and diversity until sometime in 1997 when appearances surfaced in the environment that cause sudden change in the ecosystem which negatively affected aquatic live, animals and human beings.
“The citrus trees like orange, mango, pear, walnut, coconut among others which are of much economic value to the community people due to its income generation are no longer productive and dried up.
“The root crops like cassava, yams and cocoyam were not lift out, as all falling in their yield with drastic reduction in output. The Cassava stems grows up normally but suddenly the leaves get twisted and clung up to the main stems and develop dusty pink-white particles which clustered around them”.
Tordee said the community was solely relying on the Federal Ministry of Environment until the ministry allegedly advised them to look for independent environmental expert who will do a study on the community environment which the community adhered.
“The community then engage the services of Dr. Idoniboye Obu, the principal Consultant of Environmental Management and Pollution Consultants.
“Dr. Obu began his investigation and sighting the huge gas flare from the Robert Kiri platform at Ifokor own and operated by Chevron and another standing on the Bonny Island own by mobil and NLNG”, pointing towards the flares Tordee said “These are the cause of the environmental hazards the community is experiencing”.
According to Tordee “It became unfortunate that Dr. Obu died without completing the study.
“In the community desperation to have a concrete evidence on the cause of the environmental problems, we engage the services of Prof. G.T.I Ordu, a professor of Micro Biology/Agronomist and the Principal consultant of Ecosphere Nigeria Limited.
“Prof. Ordu at that time was a consultant to NLNG, thus on discovering that his company is one of the companies flaring gas in the Bonny, he rejected the offer. Thereafter, the service of Prof. Olu Anda Wai-Ogosu, the Principal Consultant of Environmental and Chemical Services Limited was engage but the community could not foot his bill and he withdrew”.
The community members protested from Bua-Numaa Village to Kwuri carrying placards, banners and green leafs with various inscriptions calling on the government and the International Oil Companies to stop the pollution and save the community lives.