The residents of Ajose and Afisuru community in Ogijo area of Ogun state, sharing boundary with Lagos state, have raised alarm over the continuous emission of dangerous fumes emanating from African Foundries Steel Limited, a company located within their vicinity.
They are calling on the government to save them from the ordeal imposed on them by the company’s activities, which is gradually snuffing life out of the residents of the community.
Oriwu Sun’s investigation recently revealed that residents of Ita-Oluwo community, a boundary between Lagos and Ogun State, were also being affected by the fumes from the company. A resident of the community, who pleaded anonymity, he explained that the Baale sold the land to the company some years back because they showed interest in setting up the factory in the community, which would bring further development there. What he didn’t envisaged, however, is that the company would engage in activities inimical to the health of the community.
Also, recounting their woes, Mr. Alabi Ganiu, an elder in the community, spoke about how on several occasions he had fallen sick and ended up being admitted in the hospital, where the doctor asked him if he “smoked”.
In his words, “Each time I said no, they hardly believed me. Rather, they would advise me to stop smoking if I didn’t want to die young. I hope the government would come to our rescue soon. Here is my home and I cannot leave this place for the people, who met me here.”
Taofeek Aderibigbe, also a resident of the community, said all those that could come to their aid had been bribed. He said that they have written letters to different ministries but when they come, to verify the residents’ allegation,
Sodiq Abdul, another resident, said, “I moved in here with my family four years ago due to rent increase in Lagos, but I never envisaged the health hazards the factory constitute to the people through its constant emission of fumes.
“The smoke from the factory always spread across the community and it has affected my health and those of other residents. The tunnel, which is supposed to lead the smokes into the air, is faulty and so, it goes into our homes.”
While speaking with another resident, Mrs. Christian Arohunmuse, she said that the fumes coming out from the factory was very dangerous to their health, causing respiratory infections and asthma, among other ailment. According to her, there have been series of letters and petitions to the Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency (OSEPA) and the Ministries of Health and Environment but had been done to stop the pollution but to no avail.
She, however, appealed to the government for quick intervention to save them from the hazards. Another resident, Ogundele Wasiu, a motorist, said the residents did not know that the company would become a problem to the community.
In his words, “The factory constitutes other pollution problems to the community aside releasing toxic fumes to the air. It also constitute noise pollution because most of us find it difficult to sleep at night due to the noise from their machines. ”
According to him, “Most people have relocated to other places because they could no longer bear it. Some people even came from Abuja to see what was happening in the community but on getting here, they were bribed by the management of the factory and they started telling us that we have to leave the community if we want to be free from pollution.
Ogundele also said that, although, the factory promised to give them money to relocate, they have not heard anything from them since then.
In an interview with Oriwu Sun, one of the factory workers, who preferred to remain anonymous, said that there was no factory without smoke and that the factory is trying everything possible to reduce the smoke.
He explained that aside from the pollution, the residents of the community gain a lot from the factory, including employment on daily basis and free water. While commenting on the health implications faced by workers, he said the company has medical team that runs checks on them on weekly basis.
Meanwhile, all efforts to speak with officials of the Africa Founderies Steel Company Limited proved abortive as our reporter, who visited the company on Saturday, October 7, 2017, was turned back by the security men.