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Laboratory test dismisses alleged toxic waste at Koko

By FHendrix Oliomogbe and Owen Akenzua (Asaba)
16 March 2017   |   4:41 am
A laboratory analysis of the recent suspected toxic waste dump at Koko in Warri North local council, Delta State has revealed that the substance has no severe threat to human health, aquatic life and vegetation.

Toxic waste

A laboratory analysis of the recent suspected toxic waste dump at Koko in Warri North local council, Delta State has revealed that the substance has no severe threat to human health, aquatic life and vegetation.

The Commissioner for Environment, Mr. John Nani told reporters in Asaba, the state capital yesterday that no environmental remediation is required on the suspected toxic dump as it has “minimal toxicity and therefore not capable of contaminating ground water.”

The commissioner explained that following the discovery, he led a team from the Ministry of Environment to the site to assess the substance. According to him: “The result also shows that the substance has no serious threat to human health, aquatic lives, vegetation and environmental sustainability. Consequently, no environmental remediation will be required as samples fall below the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) intervention values. The samples collected from Ebenco Global Limited in Koko are non-toxic waste.”

Based on the result of the test, Nani stated that it was quite clear that the DPR regulation as contained in the Environmental Guidelines and Standards for Petroleum Industry in Nigeria (EGASPIN) was faithfully followed in the process of analysing the substance.

He said samples of the substance were randomly collected for further analysis in Benin, Edo State.The commissioner added that the substance is being treated as petroleum sludge.

He recalled that on February 26, officials of the ministry were alerted through a report on television alleging dumping of substance suspected to be toxic waste at the dumpsite of Ebenco Global Links Limited in Koko.

Meanwhile, a group, Concerned Koko Indigenes in a statement commended the state government for the prompt response to the situation, which allayed fears of toxic waste dump in the area.

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