Residents of Bayelsa State, which is primarily a riverine region, are complaining about environmental degradation and choking smoke in the atmosphere as a result of widespread bush burning for the upcoming crop season.
Clarkson Amaebi, a concerned local, stated: “This is alarming, particularly given the choking smoke in the air and its impact on both human health and the environment.”
Even on land, let alone in the riverine enclave, visibility has been severely restricted due to the high dust in the air and smoke from the widespread bush burning.
This time of year, there is a thick layer of smoke around the creeks and rivers, making boat travel dangerous.
Due to the smoke and dust in the air, a lot of people are wearing face masks. We also have to mop the floor of our homes every day because black smoke easily covers all surfaces and black soot always gets under our feet.
For my kids and me, having cattarh has become the norm. One even spits black when they do so. “It’s black if you put your hand inside your nose,” he complained.
Jane Daumiebi, a different resident, expressed her disapproval of what she called “the continuous attack on the environment caused by the uncontrolled burning of open waste and bushes in Yenagoa and its surroundings and its impact on the well-being of locals.”
“A troubling trend is that some people burn their farmlands instead of clearing them again. Before you realize it, the fire spreads far into unplanned regions, pollutes the surrounding area, and raises the air quality with dense smoke.
“It won’t stop until the government takes decisive action to punish those who commit these crimes.”
According to Lucky Godwin, smoke from burning bush has been enveloping Yenagoa City and its surroundings for the past few weeks. It is time for the state government to take action to put an end to bush burning. We would appreciate any attempt to lessen or stop this smokey cloud that causes such excruciating suffering to the locals.
Imiringi resident Paye Willie stated: “My kids suffered catarrh and runny noses. They were treated at the hospital after I brought them there. The physician attributed the increase in cough and catarrh cases in the community to farmers burning their own bush and others lighting trash dump fires.
The Bayelsa State Government, meantime, established a committee to address the threat and attributed the town’s stifling smoke to certain dishonest people burning trash in the open and in the bushes.
The 13-member committee led by Akpoebi Agberebi was officially inaugurated by Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Iselema Gbaranbiri. He gave the group immediate authority and instructed them to support government efforts to keep the environment clean, safe, and healthy as well as combat the state’s ongoing problem of illegal and careless open rubbish and bush burning.
