Curtailing water pollution in oil rich countries using rivers state as a case study
Introduction |
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I’m from rivers state Nigeria. Rivers state is an oil rich state, that is why we’re called the treasure base of the nation. Growing up in rivers state, I’ve seen a lot of pollution in the water ways like throwing of dustbins and bio-degradable products and chemicals, oil spillage as a result of bunkery activities, illegal refineries that throw away their byproducts into sea and people who empty septic tanks, go to the river to empty it. All this activities has made water inhabitable for humans and sea animals because fishes die on a daily basis and some fishermen as well, carry those dead fishes and sell.
The waters are now so toxic, people can’t go to swim again. The honest fishermen have to paddle miles and miles to the high sea with their boat and canoe just to catch fish for commercial purposes. It’s been so difficult.
The government who supposed to be a custodian of laws as well do not help matters in protecting the sea. As long as they are been bribed by this illegal refineries, they allow them carry out their illegal business and polluting the seas. The ones that are genuine enough and rejects the bribe, will set the boat transporting this illegal crude oil on fire and you will see crude oil littered everywhere in the sea.
With all this challenges been mentioned above, their are several green business ideas that comes to mind that I feel even if it can’t stop it totally, it will help curtail the water pollution in the state. I will be sharing some of these ideas here.
Waste management |
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In this part of Nigeria we are, there are lots of biodegradable products used for commercial purposes and the recycling industry over here is very few. I will say just 15% of the population know that they exist. I will advise that their should be more recycling companies and a lot of awareness campaigns to educate people on this. The poverty rate in Nigeria is so bad that if this recycling companies will “tip” people some money for bringing their recyclable waste, it will curtail this pollution on land and water. People will go as far as looking for recyclable waste just to make sure they see something to feed. It will be like a form of employment for people. The water we’ve less of this biodegradable product.
Managing bye products of people |
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Research has proven that human and animal waste if renewed can produce biogas that can be used for cooking, producing electricity and energy.
Government should set up companies that produce renewable gas for households to use using the byproducts of humans and even organic materials. It will not only save cost for government in terms of production of electricity and gas, it will also be environmental friendly.
Secondly, this waste product can also be used as manure in farm for planting of crops. It’s far better than those artificial fertilizer we used nowadays.
Oil spillage management and illegal refinery |
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Best way to handle this kind of situation is through the use of “carrot and stick” approach. This has eaten deep into the system that even government officials sponsor some of this illegal refineries.
Government agencies should find a way of punishing defaulters severely to strike in fear in the heart of other perpetrators that have intentions of doing such act.
Whistle blowing should be encouraged to help fight against government saboteurs supporting this illegal refinery and bunkery.
Government should also try to upgrade this refineries. Most of this illegal refineries have the technical know how to operate they just lack the right equipment, the more reason they pour all the byproducts of crude oil into the river. Government should assist them rather than burning their camps they use for the illegal refining.
Poverty is a major problem of the crisis in rivers state and people will do anything just to make money. Providing jobs will reduce the pipeline vandalism in creeks or rivers that pollutes the water.
Polluted water would no longer be necessary today and as our most precious resource, water deserves all our attention...
Your idea of paying people to collect and recycle rubbish is great. You are creating a protected segment of the labour market, which is characterised by the fact that the general public finances the people who do something for the general public.
The other idea with the biogas plants... I don't know enough about your energy structure in Nigeria. In this country, biogas plants are one of the (smaller) pillars of energy supply from renewable sources. Such plants are very economical and, incidentally, are already on the market for household needs (or relatively easy to build yourself...) Perhaps that would be a way of bypassing the state and taking your own measures? In the interests of the environment and consumers?
Speaking about the biogas.. when it comes to amenities like generating electricity, gas, roads. It’s provided from the central. That’s the federal government. Most states are even fighting “tooth and nail” to generate electricity but the federal government has refused to delegate power to that extent. That’s part of the reason there is always power failure in the country all the time. People celebrate each time they give us light…
We say we’re practicing federal system of government but we’re yet to practice true “federalism”.
Are there parties in your country that might want to change this political system? Do they have a real chance in the upcoming elections? Do you, as ordinary citizens, have the opportunity to do "your thing" and become independent of the respective political disaster...? Sorry for all the questions... You are so far away and not really present in our press and media...
From the look of things, we run a one party system in Nigeria. My reason for this is that the same old rotten politicians in the ruling party, were once in the opposition. If the opposition takes power now, you will see all of them go to opposition. Same corrupt set of people ruling us since 1960 till now… the reason for the backwardness and many young ones selling off their investments and properties just to migrate to another country and start over.
The electoral committee promised a free and fair election and promised that election results will be transmitted electronically.
That statement alone brought out a lot of people to come out and vote especially for this rising 3rd force party that we feel have pedigree to deliver the country. Even me, all through my 30+ years I’ve intentionally refused to go n vote because it doesn’t count but with the electronic live transmission, I was compelled to come out. Nigerians came out in masses to flush out those two old cargo party to vote the fresh 3rd party (labor party).
Guess what? in the end, our vote didn’t count. The electoral umpire themselves went behind to manipulate the network. House of senate and representatives results were transmitting life from the machine but the most important one, which is the presidential vote, we all needed wasn’t transmitting live like the other ones.
Well, it’s long gone and buried. We all move! No one can kill us at all.. our spirit cant be broken but after this act that the electoral umpires just did, trust me, if it was 70% that hate to vote considering the fact that vote doesn’t count, it just rose to 89% now..
If we decide to talk about Nigeria politics here… we’ll talk till next year and it won’t end…
I don't want to say that I am satisfied with German politics, not at all. But the framework conditions seem to me to be far more transparent and secure... I very much hope that your 3rd party or a new player can still bring about a positive change; you are the African country with the most inhabitants: You have weight!
Saludos amigo
Cada día existe más contaminación en nuestro planeta el mismo ser humano está dañando la tierra y contaminando los ríos porque arrojan toda la suciedad y es perfecta tanto los seres humanos como los animales que habitan en la tierra muchos peces mueren debido a la gran contaminación de las aguas y esto trae terribles consecuencias
Gracias por publicar tu información
Si todos trabajamos juntos colectivamente, se reducirá la contaminación tanto en la tierra, como en el mar y en el aire. El gobierno también tiene un papel importante que desempeñar al educar a la gente sobre los peligros de contaminar el medio ambiente.
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