Abia investigates community water contamination, vows to punish culprits

 From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia

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L-R: Commissioner for Environment, Philemon, General Manager, Umuahia Capital Development Authority, Commissioner for Information and Culture, Prince Okey Kanu and Director-General, Greater Aba Development Authority, Uche Ukeje, during the briefing

Abia State government has launched an extensive investigation to uncover what led to the contamination of a stream in Aro Ajatakiri community of Ikwuano local government area of the state, which officials said horrified the state governor, Dr. Alex Otti. Government has therefore vowed that perpetrators of the dastardly act, when uncovered, would face the full weight of the law.

Aside the investigation, government is packaging palliatives to assist in cushioning the effects of the water contamination on the people of the affected community.

Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Philemon Ogbonna, while answering questions from newsmen during the weekly media briefing on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting on Monday at Government House, Umuahia, said the investigation would help to identify the source of the contamination.

The Commissioner said that government has taken samples of the water for testing, while the people of the community have been warned to stop using the water for now on account of health implications of consuming the contaminated water.

Ogbonna had, in a statement last week, advised the public not to make use of Aro Ajatakiri stream in Ajata na Igu community in Ikwuano Local Government Area of the state henceforth, saying the water in the stream has been contaminated and unfit for human consumption.

The Commissioner for Environment explained that the government directive became necessary following the health hazard consuming water from the stream posed to the public.

He told the public to adhere strictly to the health advice, pending investigation and feasibility study in the stream and the area.

“It has come to the notice of the State government that Aro Ajatakiri stream in Aro Ajatakiri autonomous community has been contaminated and unfit for human consumption,” Ogbonna said.

During Monday’s briefing, Ogbonna said that government has visited the community, as well as the stream. “Investigation has been going on to pin it down on the right source of the contamination.  At the moment, the community has been advised to stay away from the contaminated water and stop using it because of the danger it might impose on them,” he said.

His Information counterpart, Prince Okey Kanu, added that “samples of the water have been taken for testing, so that the actual contents of the water will be known and that will help in whatever palliative measures that are going to be taken.”

In his intervention, Director-General of Greater Aba Development Authority (GADA), Uche Ukeje,  who disclosed that the issue was extensively discussed during Monday’s EXCO meeting added that Governor Alex Otti was horrified by the incident.

“His Excellency was horrified that this kind of incident could be happening in Abia State in the 21st Century. The fact remains that there will always be unscrupulous business men who will be willing to take advantage of the villagers or unsuspecting communities.

“But you can be rest assured that such occurrences will never happen again because, like the Commissioner for Environmental said, every effort is being made to ensure that those that did it are held accountable.

“It’s really unconscionable that people at this age and time could discharge industrial waste into waters that our people still drink. It is appalling that people seeking their own profit would make decisions that will hurt other people,” Ukeje lamented.

He said the state government would channel every available  resources to the investigation in order to find out the culprits.

He said that government would take adequate steps to ensure the welfare of the people in the area. “A team was sent there last Saturday, another will go back tomorrow (Tuesday, January 30, 2024) to assess the immediate needs of the communities and when that is done, help will be provided for them,” Ukeje promised.