Sunday 21 June 2015

Akwa Ibom must reject proposed nuclear plant, they should take it to Sambisa forest!



By Eyenisong

When I first read this news a few days back, I was praying it is not true. In an encounter with one young Akwa Ibomite on FB, he pointedly accused me of opposing job-creation avenue in the state by my arguing against the location of such a plant in the state.


I had said in my post in question that Akwa Ibom state supplies Nigeria with the highest crude oil production, yet the state has not been found worthy to host a petroleum refinery. It has similarly not been considered fit to host even a petroleum depot. It has no petrochemical plant and does not play host to the headquarters of any of the oil production and services companies operating in our waters. Akwa Ibom state is also unfit to host any major FG sponsored Agricultural development projects.

Curiously, the state has been found fit to hold a nuclear plant! Why would anybody remember Akwa Ibom only for the purpose of hosting a nuclear plant with its attendant risks? With our capacity for inaction and unpreparedness in tackling environmental issues, our non observance of maintenance culture and our indifference to life-threatening circumstances, how can we hope to cope with the radiation of a nuclear site? 

Even in developed societies where they anticipate crisis and have preemptive measures to counter or diminish the impacts, leakages of toxic materials have been known to kill and rendered inhabitants of nuclear plants homeless.

We do not need a nuclear plant anywhere in the state. If they really want to build some, Sambisa forest would most probably suit the location.

This issue must be treated with all the seriousness it deserves by all of us. We should protest against this “gesture” and tell the donors to look elsewhere.

Culled from Ibom Forum

No comments:

Post a Comment