By Nathaniel Zacchaeus, Abuja

The Senator representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Seriake Dickson, has raised the alarm that many residents of the oil-rich state are 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 of the Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology, stated this in Abuja on Wednesday when the Global Initiative for Climate and Environmental Sustenance (GICES) conferred on him, an Excellence in environmental leadership award 2023.

The representative of GICES, Mr Ogueri Mbah, 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 can 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 the blood of residents of the oil-producing areas and after laboratory tests, it was discovered that there was 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 by fish they caught from polluted water and consumed.

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“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.

*Draws govt’s attention to massive deforestation across Nigeria

The Senator called on the Federal Government to pay attention to the reckless deforestation taking place across the country.

Earlier, the representative of the group said, “His Excellency Senator Henry Seriake Dickson believes that the Environment is the collective heritage.”

Mbah said, “So as governor to the good people of Bayelsa state, in his multi-pronged approach towards protecting and preserving the Bayelsa environment, His Excellency employed over 200 forest protection officers that were recruited into the ministry of environment.

“The aim is to monitor deforestation and stop the reckless fallen of trees in the state. His Excellency further took his mission and vision to a higher level, toward tackling the issues of environmental terrorism and degradation caused by oil companies in the Niger Delta region.

“This team of world leaders brought together by Senator Henry Seriake Dickson includes; The former President of Ghana, Emmanuel Kuffour, the Archbishop of York Dr. John Setanmu, as well as notable academicians to address the harrowing issues of environmental despoliation as well as related challenges in the oil industry.”