Anambra firm denies toxic pollution in host community

Ministry of Environment set to commence investigations

Okey Maduforo, Awka

Seaman Industries owners of Seaman Rice Mill Ndam village Nnobi in Idemili South local government area of Anambra state has dismissed claims that his factory is polluting toxic waste to the health hazards of villagers in the area.

The Community further alleged that due to the toxic waste residents have fled their homes while livestock’s are being threatened at the moment.

But Chief Agbanari, Managing Director of Seaman Industries, owners of Seaman Rice Mill, Ndam village, Nnobi Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra has said the company is still conducting a test run of the factory.

Agbanari who was reacting to protest over alleged emission-induced environmental hazards by some people living in the vicinity where the factory was sited.

The indigenes had alleged that activities of the factory was endangering their livelihood due to toxic emissions from the factory.

He said full scale operations had not commenced and that the team of engineers who installed machines were still working to fix the observed errors.

He dismissed as untrue the claim that the factory was built under the cover of a high wall such that the people did not notice what was springing up.

He said it was not true that residents had abandoned their homes with their livestocks as alleged by the complainants describing it as cheap blackmail.

According to him, how can they claim that the factory was built under a high fence, a factory that is about 15 metres high sitting on about 15 plots of land, how can that be hidden.

“I am aware of the ash that is coming out from the rice mill instead of smoke which should normally go up into the air.

“The engineers who installed the machines are still working to stop the release of ash which the people are complaining about, but I must add that there is nothing harmful or toxic about the ash.

“However, I must say that I am surprised that a few people decided to go to press when we have been talking and working towards correcting the problem, I am also a mver the community but I do not want to talk about the economic benefits of the factory to the people in the area,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Anambra Ministry of Environment has promised to investigate the complaints to ascertain the level of threat the emissions posed to the people and the environment.