CAPPA laments soot prevalence in Niger Delta

Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has lamented the prevalence of soot in states in the Niger Delta region despite measures taken by the government to stop illegal oil refining.

The organisation spoke at a one-day civil society/communities/media discussion on soot pollution held in Port Harcourt at the weekend.

Director of Programmes, CAPPA, Philip Jakpor, who blamed the menace on continuous extractive activities and the “pervasiveness” of the fossil fuel industry, added that they were carried out without accountability to the people.

He said: “Some of the intermediate measures taken by the government was to halt the destruction of illegal oil refineries by open burning. But the practice is still ongoing, and the illegal gas flaring has not stopped. Such is the impunity and pervasiveness of fossil fuel industry and extractive activities without responsibility or accountability to the people.”

“Surrounding states, like Bayelsa and Delta where gas is flared, are now also experiencing similar incidents of soot pollution.

“In addition to the pollution of rivers, streams, and farmlands, the air the people breathe is also being fouled.”

Also speaking at the workshop, Ken Henshaw, Executive Director of “We the People”, stressed that the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) has failed to protect the interest of impacted communities in the Niger Delta.