Okparaolu Chioma Chris, a Nigerian attorney, has actually sued the Nigerian Government over the black soot epidemic in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, and its destructive results on the health and wellness of homeowners of the state.

Chris in a suit submitted at the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, is asking the court to oblige the Nigerian Government to pay N500million as damages for gross offense of the applicant’s basic human rights.

The suit likewise wants a court to mandate the government to take “strong and affordable actions to minimise or stop to the barest minimum the emission of black soot in Rivers State and to start the process of cleaning the air space and environment of the state”.

In the court files acquired by SaharaReporters on Saturday, the candidate is hoping the court for the following reliefs, “A statement that the applicant and indeed other indigenes of Rivers State, Nigerians and all humans living and local in Port Harcourt and in Rivers State and its environments are entitled to the very best attainable state of physical and psychological health and a basic acceptable environment favourable to their advancement as guaranteed by Articles 16 and 24 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (ratification and enforcement) Act laws of the federation of Nigeria 2004.

“A statement that the act of the respondents in neglecting several pleas and petitions form the federal government of Rivers State and her residents, alike to urgently step in, stop and treat the harmful atmospheric condition of Port Harcourt and other neighbouring locations and local governments of Rivers State affected by the unsafe airborne particle typically called black soot total up to a gross offense of the applicant’s right and undoubtedly that of other indigenes of Rivers State, Nigerians and all human beings living and homeowner in Port Harcourt and its environs to take pleasure in mental and physical health.

“An order of this honourable court mandating to pay to the applicant amount of N500million only as damages for gross violation of the applicant’s essential human rights as guaranteed under Articles 16 and 24 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (ratification and enforcement) Act laws of the federation of Nigeria 2004.

“An order of this honourable court directing the respondent to immediately take sensible and bold steps to minimise or stop to the barest minimum the emission of black soot in Rivers State and to begin the process of cleaning the air area and environment of Rivers State. And for such order to orders that this honourable court might consider fit to make in the circumstances of this case.”

In the affidavit in support of the application, the candidate described that, “Sometime in the month of April 2016, numerous Nigerians including myself living in Port Harcourt, began observing the presence of an air-borne particle now typically called “black soot” within the city of Port Harcourt and its environments.

“Black soot then showed up on white clothes spread out outside and on the body of cars parked outside and it even progressively began to affect the paint particularly white colour utilized in the painting of houses in Port Harcourt.

“When the emission of the black area continued unabated, and started to be seen in peoples’ living homes which of myself, I and other residents of Port Harcourt started raising the alarm to both the government of Rivers State and the respondents on the dangerous effects of black soot.

“It has actually been commonly reported that leading government functionaries, political leaders and basic individuals of influence have started using the M95 nose mask that filters the air. This mask is extremely pricey and it is far from my reach and those of regular Rivers individuals and Nigerians doing and living service in Rivers State.”

ToriNG