Air pollution, which is as old as civilization itself, comes from nature and also from human activities. Available statistics show from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and other authorities show that air pollution is a daily and universal occurrence.

Diverse natural occurrences give rise to air pollution such as when volcanos belch enormous amount of ash and sulphur dioxide into the atmosphere; forest fires and their attendant smoke are blown in different directions by winds; and when winds whip up plant pollens and dust from deserts.

On the human aspect, numerous activities which result in the release of potential toxic substances into the atmosphere become primary sources of air pollution. These include waste products released into the air from the exhaust pipes of internal combustion engines, boilers and furnaces of vehicles, industries, power plants, factories and homes.

Okrika Kingdom in Rivers State is a typical example of an environment that is seriously affected as a result of air pollution from mobile, stationary and indoor sources. Both outdoor and indoor air quality represent the true exposure for human beings. Experience has shown that air pollution could be serious and dangerous to human existence.

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As host to several oil and gas industries, Okrika and its environs are heavily impacted as a result of major air pollutants, particulates, and which are constantly emitted from the Port Harcourt Refinery, Indorama-Eleme Petrochemical Company Limited and the former National Fertilizer Company (NAFCON) now Notore Chemicals. This is aside several other companies doing business across the Okrika environment.

It must also be highlighted the increasing spate of illegal artisanal refining going on around the mangrove forests of Okrika, which can best be described as self-inflicted environmental genocide. This is so given the widespread belief that these is mainly perpetrated by Okrika sons in concert with external elements. The sad and scary fallout of these is the dense soot bedeviling Okrika and Port Harcourt, which has now exacerbated the health crisis across Rivers State, as a whole.    

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Against the backdrop of these heavy incidences of pollution of air, land and water, Okrikans find it difficult to fish because of the aquatic dimension to the pollution, which is now affecting the fishermen’s means of livelihood. The said pollutants reported also makes the air odorous, unpleasant and unwholesome, thereby depriving the Okrika people the benefit of enjoying their natural endowment.  

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The heavy air pollution serves as a ready catalyst for the spread of diseases which are airborne. However, there are insinuations that because of too many vehicles and companies in too little space there has been no solution to the problem of air pollution around Okrika in Rivers State. Apparently, this has been a major problem for the people and environment of Okrika Kingdom and this has been like this for a long time.

A way out of this problem would include concerted efforts from all stakeholders such as the Federal Government that owns the Port Harcourt Refinery, and has the largest stakes in Notore Chemicals, and Indorama-Eleme Petrochemicals, amongst others; and the aforementioned business concerns.

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These would also include the regulatory agencies such as the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), federal and state ministries of Environment, among others.

The interventions needed to achieve a pushback of the drift in the environment sanity around Okrika should include an environmental audit of both the land, air and water around Okrika, random tests across various communities to determine the health status of the people who have over the years been exposed to air pollution, and remediation efforts to restore the environment to its verdant state including the provision of potable water for the people.

Emediong Blessed Daka-Jacob, who wrote in this piece from Port Harcourt, is of the Mass Communications Department, Rivers State University.