By Caleb Ijioma
The ancient town of Oyo is known for its rich cultural heritage and blooming agricultural practices. The town, renowned for its rich Yoruba cultural heritage, is now facing a silent struggle. Although industrialisation is not at its peak, the Awe community of Oyo town has had to face a seemingly unending battle for survival, especially as residents accuse Bond Chemical Industries of polluting their water sources.
It was in the evening when this reporter arrived at the Adesakin Layout of Awe community, Oyo State. The street was relatively quiet, with a mix of modern and old houses. A walk through the street revealed the stench lurking in the atmosphere, the pungent smell of chemicals emanating from the waterway.
This community is battling a water crisis, and residents have been forced to get their water elsewhere, abandoning the water sources that have served them for years, but now seem to be polluted by Bond Chemical Industries.
A closer look at this waterway revealed the cracks caused by this chemical spillage, with residues of this chemical evidently seen beside these cracks.
Bond Chemical Industries Ltd produces a variety of products, including medicines. Some of these medicines include Bonadol, Parafen Caplets, and Ibuprofen, amongst others. This industry also produces water and a variety of drinks.
The manufacturing plant of Bond Chemicals Industries is situated in the Adesakin Layout of Awe community, where this reporter visited.
As clouds keep covering up, sending a signal that nightfall is near, this reporter, after walking some meters, met a resident who lives in the area. An elderly man, in his 60’s, sitting on a wooden chair, and looking out from an incomplete building, approached this reporter.
He had a nervous look when this reporter greeted him. “ Ekale, Sir,” this reporter said in the Yoruba dialect, which means Good evening sir. As the conversation continued, this reporter noticed a change in his facial expression, depicting comfort.
Identified as David, he told this reporter he has lived in this area for a long time. He narrated how Bond Chemicals has been situated in that community for over 10 years, with residents affected by its operation.
According to him, residents’ health is on the line, and accessing clean water requires avoidable efforts.
“When they flush out these chemicals, and it passes through the gutters, it smells, and it is not good to inhale,” David said, pointing to the waterways where these chemicals pass through.
He narrated how residents have now been forced to get water elsewhere, a place where Bond Chemicals’ spillage does not affect.
David had to move to the affected area a few months ago, but he still goes back to fetch water in his former residence. For a man of his age, he cannot risk using the water from where he currently lives.
“You’ll have to fetch water from the other side for drinking,” he said with a sombre expression.
Residents are forced to go elsewhere for water
The Adesakin Layout of Awe community is a long street, with residential buildings on both sides. On one side is where Bond Chemical Industry is built, and liquid wastes coming out from this industry are connected to the waterway. This liquid waste contains chemicals that residents have said contaminated water sources, making it difficult for them to access clean water.
This waterway is the only path through which wastes from Bond Chemical Industries can flow, and so all houses on this side of the road are affected, and residents have been forced to painstakingly depend on the other side of the area to get clean water, or end up putting their lives at risk.
Research has warned that Arsenic and heavy metals deposited in water from industrial waste usually infiltrate underground water and wells, resulting in physical, muscular, and neurological degenerative processes that cause brain disorders and nervous system diseases in people.
This reporter, who sought to understand the impact this has on families residing in the affected part of the area, posed as an industrial worker in search of a house.
The building this reporter walked into had some parts yet to be completed, and was closer to the waterway through which the chemical waste from Bond Chemical Industries flows.
This reporter met with Folorunsho, who was carrying his little child. Folrunsho lives in this part of the area with his family. His wife, a trader, sells provisions and other items in a shop attached to the house.
Folorunsho advised this reporter to explore other areas for houses, saying residents are affected by contaminated water from Bond Chemical Industries.
“The traces in the gutter are the bad water I’m referring to from Bond industry down the street. However, Bond industry is not affected in any way because the waste is coming out of their factory.”
He said visitors from other parts of the country, who sought comfort in the area, barely survived, unlike him, who is now used to the water situation.
“ Those at the back of the street are affected as well, also people that are not indigenes, including NYSC members that lived around the area, managed to cope”
As a result of the contaminated water, Folurunsho has been forced to walk down the street daily in search of clean water so that his family can be safe. He told this reporter that before now, the water was used to bathe and wash sometimes, but it is now worse with Bond Industries’ resumption.
“ The water was even manageable to wash and bathe sometimes, but since they resumed operation, it has been worse, and now we can’t even use it at all anymore,” he said.
The house Folorunsho lives in depends on a well very close to the building, which also serves many residents in the area. This well has been contaminated with chemicals spilt into it from the waterway.
This reporter had a vivid look at this well and noticed chemical residues resting on the water. It is from here that residents fetch water to live.
My children can’t use this water – Father
Folorunsho told this reporter that he cannot risk having his children make use of this water. Children in this affected area are prone to contracting several diseases and are at the mercy of Bond Chemical Industries.
He fears that using this water for his children can have severe health implications.
“I still bathe with the water myself but my kids can’t because I grew up using the water right from the onset, but I had to fetch water from a clean place for my kids’ usage because they’re still little and they still have soft skin,” he said.
Residents now have to make extra effort to make the water from the well cleaner, but this comes with a cost. One resident, *Folashade, who spoke to ICIR, said her family uses chlorine to make the well water clean. Findings by ICIR revealed that a drum of chlorine costs about N130,000, with small sizes costing around N6,500.
The well in Folashade’s house provides water to four flats through a borehole system. This water, which has a brown colour, can’t be used unless chlorine is added, and even after, Folashade and other residents have to wait seven days before using it.
“We use chlorine to clean the water once every three months. We pour chlorine inside the well,l and we don’t use the water for seven days. After, we use the water to wash and cook,” she said.
Chemical spills breach regulatory provisions
Chemical spills breach environmental laws in Nigeria by violating statutory regulations designed to protect air, land, and water resources, often resulting in significant ecological damage and public health crises.
Ayo Ademuluyi, an environmental and sustainability lawyer stated that chemical spills from Bond Chemicals Ltd contravene Section 27 of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) Act, which explicitly prohibits the discharge of hazardous substances into the environment.
“Section 27 of the NESREA Act clearly forbids the release of hazardous substances into the environment. Any chemical spill that contaminates land or water sources is a direct violation of this provision,” he said.
He further noted that the constitutional rights of residents living in the Awe community were breached, adding that the Supreme Court of Nigeria has recognised that the right to a clean and healthy environment forms part of the fundamental right to life as contained in Section 33 of the 1999 Constitution.
“When pollution from chemical discharge affects the health and livelihoods of residents, it raises serious constitutional concerns because the right to life under Section 33 also implies the right to live in a safe and healthy environment,” Ademuluyi explained.
According to him, the NESREA (Establishment) Act 2007 also prohibits the discharge of harmful quantities of hazardous substances into the air, land, or waters of Nigeria, including adjoining shorelines.
He emphasised that this provision is also reflected in Section 21(1) of the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA) Act, which similarly prohibits the release of dangerous substances into Nigeria’s environment.
“These legal provisions collectively impose a duty on companies to ensure that their operations do not contaminate water bodies, soil, or surrounding communities,” he added.
To clarify if this well water has been contaminated, ICIR took a water sample from one of the affected wells and conducted a physico-chemical and microbial test.
Findings certified by the Institute of Public Analysts of Nigeria (IPAN) revealed the presence of brown coloration and suspended particles, indicating possible sediment contamination or iron-related discoloration. While the test result of the well water ICIR collected didn’t detect toxic metals, there was a high concentration of ammonia (3.72 mg/L), which suggests possible contamination.
The test concluded that the groundwater sample does not fully meet potable water standards due to poor physical quality and elevated ammonia levels
A lab scientist, who pleads anonymity, says that consumption of this untreated groundwater with suspended particles may expose residents to microbial pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, and protozoa.
He said that with the elevated ammonia, potential health outcomes include gastrointestinal infections, diarrhoea, and other waterborne illnesses, and poses a health risk to Vulnerable groups such as infants, elderly individuals, and immunocompromised persons.
Dr Reinnet Awoh, a public health expert, explained that although the nitrate concentration in the analysed water sample is currently below the recommended guideline limit, the presence of elevated ammonia levels raises concerns about possible chemical changes in the water over time.
According to him, ammonia can undergo natural chemical and biological transformations that may increase the concentration of other nitrogen compounds, such as nitrites and nitrates, which could eventually pose health risks.
He warned that prolonged exposure to contaminated water could lead to serious health complications, including methemoglobinemia, commonly known as “blue baby syndrome.” The condition, which primarily affects infants, reduces the blood’s ability to carry oxygen and can result in potentially life-threatening complications.
Awoh also cautioned that if the water is microbiologically contaminated, it could expose residents to gastrointestinal illnesses.
“Consumption of microbiologically contaminated water can lead to gastrointestinal illnesses, including diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and dehydration. Such infections are particularly dangerous for young children, elderly individuals, and people with weakened immune systems,” he said.
Authorities react to claims
ICIR reached out via email to the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), the agency responsible for enforcing all environmental laws, guidelines, policies, standards and regulations in Nigeria. NASREA assured that the complaints of chemical spills from Bond Chemicals will be investigated.
ICIR also spoke to Bond Chemicals Ltd, asking if the Pharmaceutical company is aware of this issue. According to the Head of Human Resources, no complaints have been made, and the company is not aware of this issue affecting residents of the Awe community.
However, messages sent to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) got no feedback as at the time of writing this report.
