Rotary Club of Port Harcourt Eco on the 9-12-2021 organized a Conference in Partnership with NGOs and CSOs tagged “#StopTheSootConference in Rivers State @Horlikins Event Centre.
Opening Remarks by the President, Rtrn Emem Bridget.

Different Stakeholders we’re involved in making this event happen. It is a process not just an event. Solutions will be discussed more . There must be a way we’re victims of Black Soots are brought together into the mix, so that no Stakeholders components will feel left out or threatened. This is not to adopt a security approach not a forced approach, but an Inclusive approach.

THE SOOT EPIDEMIC DYING BY INSTALLMENT by Engr. R. Tombari Sibe PhD, MNSE.
We are talking about health situation here. We are dying slowly as a people in Rivers State .

A brief of an opening Peom:
“Don’t soot me,
I’m innocent,
My Life matters
more than Particulate Matter”.

So, what then is P.M? Particulate Matter is a complex mixture of liquid droplets, such as dust, soot, fumes, matter.

Some Potential Sources:
Activities of Artisan Refineries.
Activities of Heavy Industries.

Intervention Opportunities:
Air Quality Monitoring
Public Health Advisory
Medical Outreach
Environmental Clubs.

Recommendation:
There should be 12 Air Quality Monitoring Centres. 6 Air Quality Monitoring Team. Regular public Health Advisory. There should be a Sustainable approach to Artisans Refineries.

What Can be done:
Setup Air Quality Monitoring stations in strategic locations.

According to SDN , been involved in the issues of Soots.. “No area in Port Harcourt is as Safe as we thought, but the research shows that no area of Port Harcourt is safe. It was equally discovered that more Soots are found in Port Harcourt South (Borikiri) and Trans Amadi, because of the high bunkering and kpor fire activities, pollution is more, than any other area.

Government should make firm policies that should be enforceable. Generally, the Soots started from the fuse of Modular Refineries, but statistics and presentation so far, has it that, it is as a result of the accumulated burning Refineries that led to Soot outbreak.

The Federal Government is also involved in illegality, So the question is, “Can you use illegality to stop legality”.

Air treatment and Air Quality Monitoring Stations. While, we engage Government and other Stakeholders, we need to also engage the Communities.

THE BLACK SOOT PHENOMENON: CAUSES AND EFFECTS ON PUBLIC HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT… By Dr. Ferdinand Giador…
Black carbon and pollutants from incomplete combination. Consequences of delayed mitigation. Climate and Clean Air Coalition to reduce short-lived Climate pollutants. “Breathe Clean Air! Port Harcourt are you ready? Port Harcourt, we should aspire to breathe Clean Air.

HYPREP Rep: Emem… He said;. Engagement should move upward to policies Makers and Government.
There should be enforcement of Law. More Advocacy. Continuos Monitoring (Air Quality Monitoring). Hydrocarbon substances should be disposed appropriately.

Dr. Dienye Briggs (Public Health Expert and an Activist). He has been part of #StopTheSoots campaign since 2017. The Kpor Fire Boys are providing solutions, but their activities are causing us a health situation. The position is that, we need to engage these boys and get them involved as Partners.

Gas Flaring and Artisan Refineries. Government sees gas flaring as a revenue generation.

The soot?
It is a fine Particulate Matter from the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels (hydrocarbon).

Some Complications of Soots:
Low birth weight
Acute respiratory distress syndrome
Congenital malformation.

PREVENTION:
Provision of basic Social amenities such as constant power supply, well equipped hospitals etc.
Government should empower Environmental Agencies.
Stop Gas flaring and modify Artisan Refineries.

It was an amazing experience…

StopTheSoots

@Rotary Club of Port Harcourt Eco
UN Environment Programme
UNEP Major Group of Children & Youth
UN Climate Change
Climate Reality
Đỗ An Thuyên
Eco-network
Sunrise Project
350.org
350.org
350 Africa
World Health Organization (WHO)
World Health Organization African Region
Federal Ministry of Health Nigeria
Rivers State Ministry of Health
Rivers State Government.