Toxic discharge sparks health fears in Akwa Ibom communities

The coastal communities of Eket, Ibeno, Esit Eket, and Onna Local Government Areas of Akwa Ibom State are facing additional health and environmental challenges caused by a fresh toxic hydrocarbon discharge into their environment.

The toxic discharge, allegedly from one of ExxonMobil’s tanks, comes barely one month after a fresh oil spill destroyed aquatic life and polluted water bodies across over 27 coastal communities in the state.

Our correspondent reports that the recent discharge, which occurred on Tuesday, 10 September 2024, as a result of an explosion in one of the tanks, sent thick billows of smoke into the air, suffocating residents, many of whom were hospitalised.

A voice in one of the video clips sent to our correspondent repeatedly cried out, “Obo is burning in Ibeno, this is serious, imagine the carry-over.”

Meanwhile, the Akwa Ibom Oil Producing Community Development Network, an advocacy group committed to environmental justice, has notified the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, calling on it to facilitate remediation and compensation for the affected communities.

The group, in a letter addressed to the Zonal Head of NOSDRA on Thursday in Uyo, the state capital, expressed concern over the health hazards posed by the emissions.

The letter, signed by the President-General of the group, Dr Ufot Phenson, was titled, “Discharge of Toxic Hydrocarbon into Ibeno, Onna, Eket, and Esit Eket Environment: Demand for Immediate Remediation, Compensation, and Other Preventive Control.”

“We write to notify you of the recent gas explosion from one of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (MPNU) tanks, which caused a fire, flaring very high throughout the day, polluting and damaging the environment with attendant health consequences.

“The quantity of noxious hydrocarbon fumes released into the environment was alarming, resulting in some individuals seeking treatment in hospital, while many others, incapacitated, were unable to do so and now face the risk of death.

“This unfortunate development has exacerbated the already dire environmental and health conditions of the people in these areas,” the letter reads in part.

Phenson, noting that the discharge violated the provisions of national NOSDRA regulations, called for immediate intervention to alleviate the plight of the affected communities.

“We, therefore, demand the immediate remediation of the affected communities, the installation of effective control measures in MPNU facilities to reduce emissions of fumes, soot, and toxic pollutants to permissible levels, and the prompt payment of compensation to the affected communities for the destruction of property and livelihoods,” he said.

He urged NOSDRA to compel MPNU to take urgent steps to address the complaints and ensure the safety and security of the environment and the people.

Responding to the incident, the Public and Governmental Affairs Officer of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, Nigel Cookey-Gam, in a message emailed to our correspondent, said the company experienced a process upset resulting in a briefly elevated flare at its Qua Iboe Terminal in Ibeno, adding that QIT production was shut down as a precautionary measure to manage the situation.

“We experienced a process upset that resulted in a briefly elevated flare within our Qua Iboe Terminal in Ibeno, Akwa Ibom State. As a precautionary measure, QIT production was shut down to manage the situation.

“As a result, the power supply to the neighbouring community was temporarily impacted but was restored within two hours.

“MPN remains committed to the highest standards of safety and environmental practices in our operations,” Cookey-Gam said.