Heavy Metal Poisoning Found in Bayelsa Residents, Dickson Raises Alarm

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

The Senator representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Seriake Dickson, yesterday, said many residents of the oil-rich state were suffering from heavy metal poisoning.

The former governor of Bayelsa State, blamed the development on the activities of the various multinational oil companies in the Niger Delta region.

Dickson, who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, stated this while receiving the Excellence in Environmental Leadership award.

It was conferred on him by a Coalition of 20 Non-Governmental Organisations with core values on Environment, Ecology and Climate Change at the Senate on Wednesday.

The award was presented by Celestine Okwudili who represented Mrs. Ene Obi of Action Aid at the event.

Okwudili, said the award was conferred on the Senator for his contributions and stewardship in sustaining a healthy environment while serving as Governor of Bayelsa State between 2012 and 2020.

He explained that the Senator, during his tenure as governor, empaneled an International Commission on Oil Spills to assess environmental damages, determine responsibility, and develop a new legal framework for accountability and compensation in the area.

Heavy metal poisoning (toxicity) is the result of exposure to heavy metals like lead, mercury and arsenic. Heavy metals bind to parts of human cells that prevent organs from doing their job.

Symptoms of heavy metal poisoning could be life threatening and they can cause irreversible damage.

In his speech at the occasion, Dickson explained that the panel he constituted as governor, took samples of blood of residents of the oil producing areas and after laboratory tests it was discovered that there were heavy metal poisoning in their bodies.

He said, “The panel took samples of soil, and blood samples. It was discovered that there was heavy metal poisoning in the people’s bodies as a result of air and water pollution.

“They also got infected from fishes they caught from polluted water and consumed.

“The scientific report produced at the end of the exercise highlighted the plights of the residents of the oil bearing communities in Bayelsa State in particular and the Niger Delta region in general.”

Dickson said he drew the attention of the multinational oil firms to the development but that rather than doing something about it, they started fighting him.

He lamented that the situation was still reoccurring even as he urged the attention of his successor to the unfortunate situation and asked him to take action.

He said, “The oil companies were not cooperating with me then. They were even fighting me but I did not mind them because I knew I was fighting a just course.”

He also explained how he recruited 250 graduates to protect the environment, especially the forest resources.

The Senator called on the federal government to pay attention to the reckless deforestation taking place across the country.

The Senator promised to take advantage of his new position as Chairman, Senate Committee on Ecology and Climate Change to collaborate with all critical stakeholders on the issue of the environment.

He pledged to use all platforms available to him to advance the cause of the environment, the ecology and climate change.

“As the Chairman of the Senate Committee of Ecology and Climate Change, I will work with all NGOs in Nigeria, support the efforts of all institutions and bodies, to advance the cause of the environment, particularly to join the campaign against climate change.

“Nigeria response for climate change and supporting communities devastated by climate change will see a marked difference by the time our Committee swings into action,” he said

Speaking on the Bishop Sentamu Commission which indicted the oil companies operating in the region, Senator Dickson recalled why his administration set up the international commission.