By Haruna Buraimoh

NOW, shipments of toxic wastes to Nigeria are recurring with more regularity. Every now and then Nigeria has become a dumping ground for toxic waste materials from Europe and other nations who want to rid their environment of toxic waste materials.

These waste come in the form of used electrical and electronic equipment such as TV sets, computers, control processing units (CPU), digital video recorders, microwaves, pressing irons, and stereo sets. Others are used tyres and cell phones, just to mention a few.

However, cases abound of these toxic waste materials which enter into Nigerian environment with impunity and with no regard to human health. In our recent experience, the first was the Koko Port shipment dump of 1988 in Sapele, Delta State, with over 3,500 tonnes of toxic/harmful wastes and the originating country was Italy.

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Also in April 2010, the National Toxic Waste Dump Watch arrested and detained a vessel, MV Nashiville, also laden with toxic waste. In June, 2010, MV Gumel, a vessel with eight containers of toxic waste was arrested and detained in Lagos port. By these occurrences, our country Nigeria is being turned into dump for toxic/harmful waste materials, contrary to BASEL Convention and Harmful Waste Act.

However, despite sensitization/awareness efforts, some unpatriotic Nigerians in collaboration with their foreign counterparts still continue to ship toxic/harmful waste materials into Nigeria environment for selfish/material gains and gratification. It is very pertinent to note that these toxic waste materials, or used goods when dismantled contained heavy metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium, just to mention a few. These heavy metals when disposed improperly are very harmful to human health and the environment.

Toxic waste materials are dangerous to human health and man, fauna and flora. They can cause epidemics and eventually death. It can be in the form of cancer, abortion of the unborn child, kidney failure, deformities, distortions in body chemistry, blindness, and gastro-intestinal imbalance amongst other diseases and problems inherent with toxic waste materials which slowly lead to death. The Zamfara lead poisoning and epidemic is a case in point.

Therefore, making Nigeria a dumping ground for these harmful waste materials does not do us any good. These activities of importers of toxic waste into Nigeria should be condemned in the strongest terms and the offenders/defaulters should be punished appropriately. NESREA should be commended, encouraged, and supported in waging this war against illegal dumping and shipment of toxic wastes into Nigerian environment. All Nigerians should key into this idea and answer to this clarion call.

The sanction on the ship will serve as a deterrent to others who do not adhere to the laws of the country on harmful waste. Nevertheless, one question still comes to mind. How does this toxic waste material escape from their destinations with all their advanced security network and technology here?

What is the work of the security agents/organizations at the ports in Europe and other Western nations if these toxic waste materials could escape into Nigeria and her neighbouring countries? The indication is that the countries borders, seaports and airports are porous, and should be condemned in the strongest terms. Efforts should be intensified to put Nigerian borders/shores in shape, and security agents should be at alert every time. NESREA and the National Toxic Dump Watch should be commended for their efforts to rid Nigeria of toxic wastes and harmful materials.

Alhaji Haruna Buraimoh wrote in from Kano State, Nigeria.