Residents of Ngo Ndam, Nnobi in Idemili South Local Government Area, Anambra State are running away from their homes following alleged pollution of their environment by dark smoke from the Seaman Rice Mill located at the center of the community.


However, the owner of the company, Chief Emeka Agbanari told SEV that the matter is being resolved with the leadership of the community.

Spokesman of the affected families, Mr. John Enwedo said they did not know what was being built around them until the factory started operation.

He said: The Rice Mill was sited here last year. When the production started, we noticed very dark smoke coming from the factory, and our entire kindred was now covered with smoke. Many people around started experiencing itchy eyes and some started suffering from body rashes. “The noise from the factory does not allow us to sleep. My aged mother has been falling sick frequently since the factory started operation. She too has rashes all over her body.

“Since then, we have cried out to the community leader and he has not done anything. As it is, we don’t know what to do and all we need is for government to come to our rescue. The owner of the factory has also not done anything since we started complaining about the problem. The factory operates 24 hours and we no longer sleep in our houses. The pollution is too much and unbearable.

“We complained to the community leader, Webster Okonkwo a month ago and we are still waiting for his to act. He has, however, promised to attend to the problem.”

According to him, the owner of the factory bought the land from two neighbouring villages, Umudiokpala and Umuchiagha, and at the time the construction of the factory began, our people didn’t know that it would result in this.

“Initially, we thought he was building a warehouse until the dark smoke started coming out from the factory. A member of the affected families had approached him and he promised to do something about it. Our worry was whether Environmental Impact Assessment was conducted and approved before the factory was built, but nobody could give us that information.

“We want the factory to be removed completely because this is a residential area. This is not an industrial area where a factory of this nature should be sited. Many people in this area have relocated their livestock and other domestic animals as they were dying in large numbers daily as a result of the hazard. Our tenants have abandoned their rented houses to safer areas. We can no longer collect water from our houses as the water is completely dark. Waste water is also flowing into some compounds which we believe is dangerous,” he added.

Chief Emeka Agbanari, who reacted on the matter said the process for resolving the problem is ongoing.

He said: “We are still test-running the machines and you know that in the process of test-run, there would always be errors of this nature. We are fixing the problem. We are working on it presently and the people who installed the machines are on ground working.

“We have talked with the people and as someone from this community, I won’t do anything to undermine the health of the people. The chairman of the community talked to me about it and even on Sunday, we held a meeting concerning the impact the mill is having on the villagers. We have also agreed to bring back the people who installed the machines and they are already effecting the necessary corrections as we speak. The problem is that the tower carrying the smoke is not properly directed, but it will soon be corrected.”

He, however, argued that Rice Mill does not emit dangerous materials, adding that what the factory uses is wood that is burnt in the mill.

Anambra State Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Felix Odumegwu said in an interview that following a petition from the community, his ministry sent a technical team to assess the situation, adding that the report is being awaited.

An agricultural extension consultant, Mr. Emma Okafor, said with what is happening in the community, plants in the area will no longer produce fruits and tubers as the dark smoke covers the leaves, thereby making it difficult for photosynthesis to take place.

khalling2008:
NAFDAC should go and inspect the factory as a matter of urgency, We don't trust Okoro, they can do anything for money before they sell contaminated rice to public use.

Dagah2:

When it's not owomi'da?
Okoro will forever be your nightmare

Bestmanfornow:
They should resolve it the issue of smoke polluting the air, the person saying the mill should be remove is sick, Nnobi is a neighbouring town to Nnewi that host many manufacturing companies, also Nnobi is just a few minutes drive to Amaichi town that host Stine rice mill, Stine rice mill has been operating for more than six years and nobody is complaining

khalling2008:
NAFDAC should go and inspect the factory as a matter of urgency, We don't trust Okoro, they can do anything for money before they sell contaminated rice to public use.

khalling2008:
NAFDAC should go and inspect the factory as a matter of urgency, We don't trust Okoro, they can do anything for money before they sell contaminated rice to public use.

khalling2008:

Okoro take time, stop production of counterfeit and contaminated rice in your region. Baby factories don do you now, don't add contaminated rice to the name people have known you with throughout the world

BitterTruth0001:
Wood should not be used as fuel
There’s abundant gas in Nigeria

Mindlog:


Stine rice is way more than 6 years as I remember Chika Okpala (Zebrudaya) doing advent for Stine rice flour about 15 years ago!

FreeStuffsNG:
Chief Emeka Agbanari, who reacted on the matter said the process for resolving the problem is ongoing.

He, however, argued that Rice Mill does not emit dangerous materials, adding that what the factory uses is wood that is burnt in the mill.

It is good to know that all the stakeholders are meeting to resolve the issue.

It seems that regulators didn't supervise his construction effectively from the onset to advise him on the impact on the environment. That noise impact on people, at least, would have been brought to his attention.

Wood is a renewable energy source but this thick smoke produced during its combustion is more likely because of incomplete combustion which releases a lot of poisonous substances including carbon monixide and smoke.

He may need to consider other options of heating the boilers. There are Rice mills in other parts of Nigeria yet their hosts don't experience this kind of hazards so he must remain positive to resolve this early stage challenges. He can allot 5% of the shares of the company to the community so that they have part ownership of the rice mill.

May God bless Nigeria for ever! Check my signature for free stuffs!

Splashme:
Nigeria must stop building rice Mills everywhere.

The country needs investment in Rice farms and not Rice Mills

Most of the rice Mills across the country including Lagos owned Imota Rice Mill are not functional because of absence of enough rice paddy.

The country needs farms not Mills
.

Malroux:
Fake news from a corn muncher.

Splashme:
Nigeria must stop building rice Mills everywhere.

The country needs investment in Rice farms and not Rice Mills

Most of the rice Mills across the country including Lagos owned Imota Rice Mill are not functional because of absence of enough rice paddy.

The country needs farms not Mills
.