The residents of Assumpta Minor Seminary Road, Naze in Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State has taken to the street to protest against alleged Environmental Pollution reportedly caused by the illegal discharge of effluent water on the major Government Road from Mercies Agro Produce Ventures, located along the said Naze road.
The protesters, comprising youths and women, who wielded placards with different inscriptions, also copied the Traditional Ruler and President General of the Community Naze and Ezeakiri Village respectively, when they were practically locked out by the company’s management.
In a petition made available to journalists 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, the people threatened to take legal action upon one month if the farm's management fails to comply to the request as made thereto.
The petition reads," We have 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 Implications 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.
"As a learned person, the Residents are aware that the farm's 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 and 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 with 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 for your anticipated cooperation for mutual peace and business development, the letter concluded.
The protesting residents called on the government of Senator Hope Uzodimma to intervene to save them from potential danger to health posed by the environmental pollution from the farm. The farmhouse is said to be adjacent to the Human Race Hospital along the Assumpta Minor Seminary Road, Naze
A resident who trades around the area, who pleaded anonymity lamented that the odor from the farms has affected his business, saying customers are beginning to avoid his services because of the offensive odor emanating from the farm.
“For months now, the residents of this area have been living with great discomfort as a result of the odor 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 neighbors said efforts to reason with the owner had also failed. The farm has been a source of discomfort to all residents including children.”
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