The Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, on Monday expressed concern over oil spillage in the Baruwa area of Alimosho Local Government Area, Ilado and other parts of the state.
While receiving members of the Federal House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), Fashola said the situation had led to the outbreak of diseases and was capable of wiping out communities if not checked.
“We are sowing seed of poor health for the future. These things are toxic, they create environmental difficulties and they create breathing and respiratory disorder,” he told the committee members.
“There is a place called Baruwa in Alimosho Local Government, I want you to visit. I think you should visit Ilado and other communities, just take a dip in their water, it is petrol. That is the level of pollution in most parts of Alimosho. If you dig, you will see petrol. So, we are seeing all sorts of skin diseases, cancer emerging in these areas.”
The governor blamed it on wrongly located petroleum infrastructure, adding that while the Federal Government had the power to regulate the petroleum sector, the state government had the right to decide where petroleum infrastructure should be located.
He called on the committee to visit the affected areas, so as to realise the severity of the problem, which he said had affected the socio-economic lives of residents.
Fashola also intimated the lawmakers of the frequent cases of petroleum-related accidents, especially those caused by petroleum trucks, saying there was a need to define specifications for vehicles conveying petroleum products in the country.
He commended the House of Representatives for living up to the expectation of Nigerians but said that there was still a lot to do to improve the quality of legislative sessions.
Dakuku Peterside, the Chairman of the committee, told the governor that Lagos State was important to the petroleum industry.
Peterside said the House was aware of the challenges faced by the state as the host of petroleum infrastructure.
He pledged that the committee, which was in the state to inspect some infrastructure, would do all it could to address the problems.
