Enviromental pollution in Rivers state, residents complain of black soot (we are at risk of developing health issues)

     Rivers state residents recently raised alarm over the presence of Black soot in the environment.some residents say they have been experiencing this since last year. comments like

•  have been mopping my house like twice I’m a day,pls the government should do something about this
• Dats wat we have been experiencing, it’s so bad and wicked cus our govt don’t want to look into it.
• Hmmm its so true and very frightening o. I clean my house morning and evening no. When you clean your nose or face you’ll be surprised what you see.
• It’s so true. It’s always in my nose and on my body when I wake upon the morning and I was blaming the church opposite my house which has a mikano generator….. Jesus save us.
• This is 100% true! I first noticed it on cars. I was wondering why the cars suddenly had lots of black dust everyday. Until I started seeing it on floors . May God help us! Sorry to say but Nigeria is the most useless country on the planet. We are so helpless.
• God, I’m in PH and can’t wait to enter the next available flight to Lagos tomorrow, I don’t even feel like breathing now. Fear is catching me.
• This is what we have been experiencing since 2016.it is freaking annoying
• This is so true,it’s in the air we breathe,it’s on every surface and it’s dangerous!
• This is so true ohhhh. I have been mopping my house like twice I’m a day,pls the government should do something about this

has been made over the issue, according to a medical practitioner,inhaling the soot can cause illness such as Asthma, Pneumonia, Bronchitis and other dangerous respiratory tract infection. The general manager Port Harcourt refinery company blame the soot on illegal oil activities by bunkers and vandals.

When questioned about the soot in an interview by Channels TV, Rivers state commissioner of Information said: “Port Harcourt is industrializing very fast, so there is a tendency for this kind of pollution. It’s got to do with laws as well, the extractive economy is supported by federal laws, we have a state control over such an environmental issue but ultimately, how you enforce environmental impact work is up to federal law.

“The petroleum act of 1969 is still the organizing law that regulates the industry. It is (the law) 45 years old, you would have expected that the petroleum industry bill that has been in debate would have been passed into law. You know, a more contemporary understanding of how to tackle environmental issues.


“At the state level, we have a very committed response to environmental issues, we have been rethinking our own law to see how we can better enforce environmental regulations.”Rivers residents however appeal to the state government for urgent intervention.