Pulse.ng : Network urges Kaduna government to support Kapam community hit by environmental crisis

By Sani Idris

The Network of Civil Society in Environment (NCSE), has urged the Kaduna state government to address environmental and health crisis in Kapam, a host community to Kaduna Refining and Petrochemicals Company (KRPC).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the community, was affected by the alleged release of toxic chemicals by the KRPC which is undergoing turnaround maintenance, killing animals, crops and led to hospitalisation of some of the residents.

NAN also reports that the Kapam community, led by its womenfolk, staged a peaceful protest at the KRPC gate on August 30, calling for dialogue with and remediation and compensation by the KPRC for the losses they have incurred resulting from toxic emission from the KRPC.

In a statement issued to newsmen on Tuesday in Kaduna by Convener/Coordinator of the network, Gloria Kasang, said the alarming reports emerging from the community highlighted a severe environmental and public health crisis that demands immediate attention.

She said that the Kaduna refinery, a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, has been releasing toxic chemicals that are not only killing local wildlife but also devastating crops and making community members, particularly children and women gravely ill.

Such situation, she said threatens the livelihoods of local farmers, exacerbates food insecurity, and undermines the overall health of the community.

"The ripple effects extend beyond Kapam; they pose a significant risk to the broader Kaduna state, potentially endangering the health of surrounding communities and ecosystems.

"This crisis raises serious questions about the commitment of the Government to protect its citizens and the environment. Allowing such dangerous practices to continue will not only tarnish the government’s reputation but also ridicule its stated goals of sustainable development and public health protection,"she said.

In light of the concerns, Kasang called on the Kaduna State government to investigate the root causes of and provide immediate support to cushion the impact on the community.

The support, she said
should include;
medical assistance, food and water security, economic relief such as introduction of financial assistance programs for local farmers and businesses adversely affected by the environmental damage.

The Coodinator also called for strengthening and enforcing existing environmental protection laws to prevent future occurrences of similar crises, community engagement and developing and implementing a long-term strategies for environmental restoration and public health improvement.

This, she said would ensure the community’s resilience against future environmental threats.

She urged all stakeholders to unite in addressing the crisis, priorite the well-being of the community over corporate interests, stressing that immediate action is essential to remedy the situation and prevent further harm to both the people and the environment.(NAN)