The residents’ complaints were contained in various petitions written by the area’s Landlords Association. The association accused African Steels Mills of deliberately continuing to release its hazardous wastes into the community by creating a hole on the firm’s wall through which toxic wastes escape and pollute communal land. The residents stated that the chemical wastes have compounded the flooding hazards caused by lack of proper drainage.
Residents of the Adeite-Bogundo community in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State have publicly cried out over a firm’s continued discharge of toxic wastes in their community.
The residents accused African Steel Mills Limited of spilling chemical wastes that have worsened the flood crisis that troubles the area.
The residents’ complaints were contained in various petitions written by the area’s Landlords Association. The association accused African Steels Mills of deliberately continuing to release its hazardous wastes into the community by creating a hole on the firm’s wall through which toxic wastes escape and pollute communal land. The residents stated that the chemical wastes have compounded the flooding hazards caused by lack of proper drainage.
The landlords said they were convinced that steel company’s spills are deliberate, adding that they had lodged several reports of the spills both with the management of the company and environmental officials in the Lagos State government.
The landlords stated that, rather than arrange for the safe and proper disposal of its wastes, the African Steel Company has continued to pipe its wastes into the floodwaters of the community, even in defiance of a 2012 directive by the Lagos State government.
“The wastes have now complicated public health problems in our community following increased rainfall in recent months and flooding crisis in the area,” said a resident.
A landlady added: “Residents, especially young ones, are falling ill due to inhalation of the African Steel Company's poisonous releases. The chemicals are life threatening.”
The landlords showed a correspondent of SaharaReporters copies of several petitions written by the Landlords Association to the local council authority, the Ministry of Environment in Lagos State as well as the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA). Our correspondent also saw copies of letters LASEPA wrote demanding that the company address the spillage problem. Even so, the landlords wondered why Lagos State authorities seemed unable to compel the company to stop the seepage of wastes that continue to wreak havoc on the health of residents.