April 25 (Newshour.com.ng) – The residents of Assumpta Minor Seminary Road, Naze in Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State on Monday this week, took to the street to protest against the unfortunate condition of Environmental Pollution said to be caused by illegal discharge of effluent water on the major Government Road from Mercies Agro Produce Ventures, located along the said Naze road.
In a petition signed by the spokespersons of the Residents under the umbrella body of Concerned Residents of Assumpta Minor Seminary Road(CRAMSRN) Naze, Engr Ben Njoku and Ebere Mba on behalf of the group made available to newsmen, pasted at the gate of the alleged recalcitrant farms, when the protesting residents were practically locked out by the company’s management also, copied to Traditional Ruler and President General of the Community Naze and Ezeakiri Village respectively, the people threatened to take legal action upon one month if the farms management fails to comply to the request as made thereto.
According to the content of the petition, they had written to notify those addressed in the letter, including the Director, Mercies Agro Produce Ventures, that they have been aware of what they described as Environmental and Health Implicatiom of the farm’s illegal discharge and pollution on the Assumpta Minor Seminary Road, believing that the farms will have a rethink and do the needful, regretting that unfortunately, the farms have deliberately ignored that, hence, the motivation for the petition.
The letter further stated that, as a learned person, the Residents are aware that the farms management knows the legal implication of the illegal discharge of the farm’s effluent water on the major government road which they averred contravenes both public health, primary health, environmental, housing laws and other State and Federal Laws in Nigeria. This, the Residents stated has caused them untold pollution and hardships, as well as destroyed their road which will further cause the Government a lot to construct.
“We, therefore with immediate effect advise you to stop such act and save our health and road by resorting to modern effluent water discharge by building silos and septic tanks.
We shall not hesitate to take further legal actions against you and your farm, Mercies Agro Produce Ventures, Naze if you fail to hearken and comply to this our passionate and urgent appeal. Also, be aware that this present Government ably led by Dist Senator Hope Uzodimma, the shared prosperity Governor will not in any way support such illegality and nuisance which your farm has over a long time caused us.
Thanks in your anticipated cooperation for mutual peace and business development, the letter concluded.
They called on the government of Senator Hope Uzodimma to intervene in order to save them from potential danger to health posed by the environmental pollution from the farm.The farm house is said to be adjacent to the Human Race Hospital along the Assumpta Minor Seminary Road, Naze
A resident who trade around the area, lamented that the odour from the farms has affected his business, saying customers are beginning to avoid his services because of the offensive odour emanating from the farm.
“For months now, the residents of this area have been living with great discomfort as a result of the odour from the farm. My customers and workers have been complaining bitterly that this place is no longer habitable,” Mr Ogbonna told this Newspaper
“We have tried to approach the owner of the farm individually without success. Other neighbours said efforts to reason with the owner had also failed. The farm has been a source of discomfort to all residents including children.”
