Air Pollution: Okhoro, Medical Stores, Upper Lawani Residents Beg Gov Okpebholo For Intervention
By Simeon OSAJIE
Residents of Okhoro, Medical Stores, Upper Lawani roads in Egor and Oredo local governments areas of Edo State today appealed the Executive Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo to come to their rescue over air pollution from Iyayi Rubber Factory, a development they described as worrisome, saying they are living in fear of a possible outbreak of disease.
They said over the years, they’ve had costs to treat one ailment to another, a situation which has made some business owners and even landlords to relocate elsewhere.
Investigation carried by The9JaTREND revealed that Iyayi Rubber Factory was relocated from its original location at Egba Community in Uhunmwonde local government area of the state to Iyayi Fishery Company along Okhoro Road after the death of Dr. Ifianayi Iyayi in 2018 by his eldest son, Mr. Caesar Iyayi.
A resident of Okhoro road, Mrs. Dorris Uyigue while speaking to The9JaTREND in Pidgin English said, “Iyayi Factory wen dey say na rubber dem dey do, e dey disturb us well well. People wen no suppose die come dey die anyhow for this area. Hospital wen I never go before, since this thing start, I dey go hospital, UBTH two time two a weeks, I think u see how e dey smell, you dey hear the smell, it is not good for us oooo. I dey beg Governor Okpebholo make e come helep us oooooo, we dey die for here ooo.”
Another resident in the area Hassan Oshoma who condemned the air pollution said aside difficulty in breathing, the smell becomes more offensive at night and during the dry season.
According to him, “Since nobody is coming to our rescue, some tenants, landlords and even business owners have packed out.
“How can one man business continue to affect everybody in the area? This is totally bad and unacceptable. Somebody is making money out of his business while others are suffering from the air pollution from the business. So, I beg the government to come to our aid and rescue us from the smell.”
Another resident in the area, Moses Odigie said, “The smell here is very terrible and we cannot bear it especially in the morning like this, when Iyayi rubber factory is doing the production of rubber stuff, everywhere will be smelling. If you go through this area, a lot of business owner, landlords and even tenants have packed away because of the smell.
“We had complained several times, the owner (Mr. Caesar Iyayi) will tell us that he will relocate the factory or find solution to the smell. So, I beg the government to come to our aid to rescue us from the hand of Iyayi Rubber factory since the owner find it difficult to do something about the smell.”
On what efforts that have been made by landlords and other residents on the issue, some residents disclosed that the youths have over the time protected against the pollution in a bid to draw the attention of the owner of the facility for lasting solution even as they are now calling on relevant authorities for intervention.
“When we complain to Egor local government area about the air pollution, they said they will do something about it, and up till now, we have not heard anything from the local government authority.
“Even when the youths in the area met with the owner (Mr. Caesar Iyayi), he promised us that he will find solution to it that was in January this year and up till now nothing has been done about the smell,” Odigie added.
Charles Chidi is another resident in the area. “As I’m talking to you now, you can perceive the smell. So, that is what we are facing here. It causing a lot of air pollutions everywhere. The smell even go as far as Upper Mission, Upper Lawani, Medical Stores Roads, and environs as landlords, tenants and business owners also complain about the same smell.
“I are calling on Governor Monday Okpebholo to come to our rescue as previous government refused to take action against the rubber factory. This is something we can do on our own.”
Reacting to the cries of the affected residents, the factory owners Caesar Iyayi pleaded for patients in time saying that plans are ongoing to install a deodorizing plants in the factory to reduce this tent. He also stated that the pungent smell is not harmful to human health, citing his present and that of members of his family in the factory premises on daily basis as an example.
According to him, “My plea to them is that I understand their concern. One, they should understand that it is not harmful to human beings because I’m always here. My children are always here because, the worst I won’t come here, I won’t expose my family to it and the history is already there that it is not even harmful to human being, it is offensive just somebody like the smell of garlic others will like it and that is just the difference but however we are taking effort to mitigate the smell.”
