Osun community raises the alarm on deadly factory emissions

The people of Fashina community in the Ife Central Local Government Area of Osun State have alerted the state government to the dangerous emissions being released into the community by Ife Iron and Steel Company located in the area.

The chairman of the community, Rev Jacob Fadare, told our correspondent in an interview that residents of the community were worried about the health implications of the emissions.

He called on the state government to compel the steel firm to move the factory out of their community in order to save the people living in the area from terminal diseases such as cancer.

The community leader explained that the community reported the activities of the steel factory to the Osun State House of Assembly and the lawmakers had invited the community and the factory to appear before the House.

He stated that despite the video recording of the thick smoke being emitted to the community was shown to the lawmakers, they had refused to do anything to address the problem.

Fadare said the company gave the community a generator when their outcry against the emissions was becoming too loud, lamenting that the benefits of the generator could not mitigate the hazards of the emissions the people were exposed to on a daily basis.

He said, “The company and NESREAL officials as well as ministry officials were invited to the assembly. Despite this, the company has not stopped the emissions.

“It became a bit better after the assembly invited us because it was much more terrible before them. We did a video recording of the thick smoke coming out into the atmosphere and showed it to the lawmakers and the company after that but they haven’t stopped and we know the smoke is injurious to our health.

“The bad thing is that the particles of the emissions usually settle on the crops on our farms. We also produce vegetables in large quantities and people come from different places, even outside Osun State, to buy these things.

“This means the danger is not limited to those of us in Fashina community alone, those eating the crops and the vegetables are also exposed to the same danger.”

An official of the company, who spoke with SUNDAY PUNCH on condition of anonymity, said the firm did not violate any environmental laws.

He said, “The company complies with all relevant guidelines and safety regulations but I don’t know why the people do not want to believe this. The fume coming out of the factory is not injurious to humans. We that work there also inhale this and do you think I want to die?

“The company bought some equipment, which was installed at the factory to ensure that its emissions are within the permissible limit. So, what is coming out is not injurious to humans.”

The Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Dr Najeem Salam, did not return calls to his mobile by our correspondent to find out steps the assembly was taking to stop the emissions.

He had also yet to respond to the message sent to his telephone on the matter as of the time of filing this report on Saturday.

Source: Punch NG

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