By FUNMI OLASUPO

Kano –Indigenes of Kano State especially those  living in and around the Challawa and Sharada Industrial Estate, are now living in fear of a possible outbreak of water borne diseases following  the constant pollution of their water source by tannery operators in the state.

Vanguard Homes and Property gathered that tanneries earlier shut down by the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, NESREA for indulging in environmental bad practices have been reopened by faceless government officials.

Alhaji Indabwa Salisu who resides in Bompai district told Vanguard Homes & Property that “tannery operators in Kano State have constituted themselves a menace; the only source of drinking water we have is now being gradually polluted.”

Continuing, he said’ “It is a shame that people paid with tax payers money can go behind the scene to reopen factories shut down by a Federal agency. This is rascality at its highest best”.
Another resident of the area, Mohammed Idrissu said the deteriorating situation is  disheartening and worrisome.

He lamented that, “the level of environmental degradation arising from discharges into canals which converges at a point and eventually flow into Challawa River is alarming’

“The pollution levels have substantially increased and the waters are coloured showing serious contamination.  This is industrial pollution at its highest,” he said. The proliferation of tanneries in Kano is due to the availability of hides in the area; but the issues of managing the waste borne by these industries have been of serious concern to residents of the communities.

It was also gathered that 80 per cent of the tannery business in Nigeria are located in Kano, and in the last four years it is known that NESREA have been consistent in persuading operators to put their effluent machines in order to control unnecessary discharges into sources of water supply.

Another resident of Challawa District Alhaji Sambo Illyasu also lamented that, “Kano State must be saved from the throes of traditional myths, immorality and environmental degradation.  The sanctity of lives cannot be traded for anything less.” According to him, “We cannot wait to read of fatalities emerging from the rascality and irresponsible attitude of these unnamed officials who subvert the efforts of NESREA in enthroning environmental best practices and ensure strict environment compliance.

“These erring officials must be brought to book and the factories involved should be penalized without further waste of time.” The four factories shut down by NESREA on October 25 for flouting environmental regulations, were Gashesh Tannery , Fine Leather Company, Kano Tans S.A. Ltd, and Gods Little Tannery.
NESREA Kano Zonal Director described their activities as, “Insulting to the environment”.

He said, “Recall that the Federal Government through NESREA has been trying to ensure strict compliance with environmental sanitation and protection regulations in line with the Transformation Agenda of Mr. President and his administration!

“Nigerians and indeed Kano State indigenes must join hands to encourage officials of the State to be accountable and justify tax payers’ money. “They must be told that the era of “business-as-usual” is over and this is the period of Transformation.  The irony of it all is that people appointed into office must not see their appointment as an avenue to perpetrate evil and sponsor decadence,” He stressed.