Renowned actress and environmental activist, Hilda Dokubo, has appealed to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to swiftly come to the rescue of the communities that have suffered pollution as a result of oil spillage in Rivers State.
This appeal followed after the emergence of a viral video showing water turning black and gushing from a residential home.
The viral video, which is said to have been captured in Bille Kingdom in Rivers State, has elicited reactions online among Nigerians who feel very outraged about the continuous effects of oil pollution on the lives of the community people. In the video, one can see the water change color from its natural state to black.
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Commenting on the issue, Dokubo appealed to all the relevant authorities to immediately give their help to the people.
This video also generated controversy among various social media users, some calling the video fake, whereas others argued that such scenarios were a representation of the harsh conditions experienced by many people living in the Niger Delta region.
One particular social media user claimed to be a serving member of the National Youth Service Corps in Bayelsa State in the year 2001 and explained how he experienced the same situation as well.
This user asserted that the corps members could not consume the water in the area or use it for washing purposes but had to depend on sachet water, which was bought from Port Harcourt. Many other people, including children in the area, were suffering from skin conditions because of pollution in the environment.
The latest development has brought back the issue of environmental problems arising from oil exploitation in the Niger Delta region.
In reaction to the aftermath of the videos, there have been many calls from Nigerians demanding that there be more environmental protection laws, more rehabilitation efforts as well as assistance for the communities that have suffered due to pollution for decades now.
