News
Protesters block Kaduna Refinery, demand compensation over toxic chemical spill
Protesters in their hundreds from Kapam community in Chikun LGA of Kaduna State on Friday blocked the entrance to the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company, KRPC, demanding compensation for damages caused by a toxic chemical discharge from the refinery.
The protesters, mostly women, carried placards, saying that the chemical discharge from the refinery had destroyed their farms, killed their animals, and posed a significant threat to their health.
Some of the placards had inscriptions that read, ‘KRPC has completely destroyed our crops’, ‘KRPC has poisoned us with toxic chemicals’, ‘Kapam Community in danger: KRPC’s actions are devastating us’, ‘KRPC has ruined our lives. We will not tolerate this!’, among others.
One of the protesters explained that the chemical discharge has had devastating impact on the community, saying that their children are suffering because of the negligence of KRPC.
“They (children) inhaled the toxic chemical and now they are lying in the hospital, fighting for their lives. We can’t afford to lose them,” he explained.
“We demand justice and compensation for our suffering. The refinery must take responsibility for their actions and ensure that this never happens again.”
A woman protester pleaded with KRPC to address the community’s plight, lamenting that the residents are worried about their health and have no access to medical care.
She added that their food is contaminated, and they are struggling to survive.
“KRPC needs to step in and provide us with the necessary assistance. We can’t do this alone,” she further lamented.
Other protesters stated that the financial losses caused by the chemical discharge ran into millions of naira.
They also alleged that the refinery has neglected the host community, citing a lack of essential services such as schools, hospitals, electricity and basic healthcare facilities.
The indigenes demanded comprehensive compensation for their losses and immediate action to mitigate the environmental and health impacts of the refinery’s operations.
The management of the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company has remained silent on the protesters’ demands, and has yet to address the media or provide a statement regarding the situation as of the time of filing this report.
CREDIT: DAILY POST
Dangote Refinery has announced that it will need to export 95-97 percent of its Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) due to low interest from Nigerian marketers. The refinery, which processes 650,000 barrels per day, revealed that only 3 to 5 percent of petrol marketers are purchasing its fuel.
Devakumar Edwin, Vice President of Oil and Gas at Dangote Industries Limited, shared these details during an X Space session hosted by Nairametrics on Wednesday. He highlighted the challenges facing both the Dangote Refinery and Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
Edwin explained, “I’m selling 2 to 3 percent to small traders who are willing to buy, while the remaining 95 to 97 percent has to be exported,” referring to the local sales of the refinery’s products.
This situation arises as the NNPCL’s deadline for adjusting the Dangote Refinery’s fuel distribution approaches without a clear plan in sight. It is worth noting that while Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Group, has announced the refinery’s initial petrol rollout, its distribution to marketers is contingent upon NNPCL’s decisions.
The final sixteen teams for the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia have been determined following the conclusion of the group stage.
In recent matches, Ghana triumphed over New Zealand with a score of 3-1, and Japan secured a 2-0 victory against Austria.
As a result, Japan has advanced to the Round of 16, joining the other 15 teams in this knockout stage.
The Round of 16 matches are scheduled for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.
The full lineup for the Round of 16 is as follows:
- Spain vs Canada
- Brazil vs Cameroon
- Colombia vs South Korea
- Mexico vs USA
- North Korea vs Austria
- Germany vs Argentina
- Netherlands vs France
- Japan vs Nigeria
The Nigerian Army has refuted claims of widespread resignations among its soldiers due to issues like corruption and low morale.
In a statement, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations, dismissed these reports as unfounded.
A news outlet had alleged that numerous Nigerian soldiers were resigning because of corruption and low morale. However, the statement condemned these allegations as misleading and a deliberate attempt to create discontent and undermine the Nigerian Army’s reputation and the dedication of its personnel.
Major General Nwachukwu clarified that, similar to other military organizations worldwide, service in the Nigerian Army is voluntary rather than mandatory. This means that personnel have the freedom to resign following established procedures.
He explained that the resignation process allows personnel to prepare and manage their entitlements, including pensions and gratuities, as outlined in the Harmonized Terms and Conditions of Service (Officers/Soldiers).
Contrary to the report’s implications, the statement emphasized that Nigerian Army personnel are highly motivated, and their welfare is a priority under the leadership of Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja.
We’ll be forced to export 97% of our petrol – Dangote Refinery warns
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