IKEJA – Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, raised the alarm over oil spillage in the state. He said this has led to outbreak of skin and cancer diseases in the affected areas.

Meanwhile, he has signed into law, a bill that empowers the state Chief Judge to make necessary amendment to the rules of the state High Court.

Fashola, who spoke during a courtesy visit by members of the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream Sector), said it was high time the Federal Government checked the activities of the downstream sector in that part of the state before Lagosians,who reside in those parts of the state, were wiped out.

He explained that although the Federal Government had the constitutional rights to regulate activities in the sector, the government was empowered to decide on where petroleum assets were to be sited in the state, adding “such power is strictly municipal to avoid locating petroleum infrastructure in the wrong place.”

He listed some of the areas affected by the oil spillage to include Baruwa in Alimoso Local Government Area, Ilado axis and others.

Fashola urged the lawmakers to visit the places in the state that had been badly affected by oil spillage, saying “apart from denying the people the opportunity to engage in their daily business activities, the communities are now at the risk of deadly diseases such as cancer and skin diseases owing to their polluted water.

“If this continues, then we will begin to sow seed of poor health for the future. This is because these resources are toxic and poses environmental difficulties for the residents, as many of them may begin to encounter respiratory disorder.
“That is the level of pollution in most part of Alimosho and this had resulted to skin diseases and emerging cancer infections.”

Fashola noted that legislation alone cannot solve the problem because there is a rich body of legislation that had not been enforced, adding that what was required was enforcement of the legislation made the apex lawmakers.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/05/fashola-raises-alarm-on-oil-spillage-in-lagsos/