Ewekoro Township: A Tragic Tale of Devastation and Neglect
Ewekoro, a once thriving community, is currently grappling with the aftermath of the devastation caused by Lafarge Africa Plc. The peaceful agricultural town has been transformed into a wasteland, covered in cement dust, and its once prosperous agro-economy now lies in ruins. The impact of Lafarge’s activities has plunged the community into a seemingly irreversible state of despair.
The locals, particularly the younger generation, have been compelled to leave their hometown in search of better opportunities elsewhere. The distressing situation in Ewekoro has led to the establishment of the Ewekoro Youth Indigenes (EYI), a pressure group advocating for the restoration of their ancestral land.
In response to the community’s plight, members have filed a substantial N1 trillion lawsuit against Lafarge Africa Plc at the Federal High Court in Abeokuta, citing the company’s role in the pollution and destruction of their environment due to limestone mining and cement manufacturing. The lawsuit aims to secure compensation for the damage inflicted on the town over the past 60 years.
The devastation also extends to the neighboring satellite community of Olapeleke, where residents have also felt the adverse effects of Lafarge’s activities. Their once thriving agricultural economy has been devastated, and they are now grappling with the collapse of buildings and the disappearance of farmlands and rivers.
Despite Lafarge’s substantial profits, the company’s support to the Ewekoro community through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives has been viewed as tokenistic and grossly insufficient. The meagre sums provided annually to the community have done little to alleviate their suffering.
While Lafarge maintains that its activities are carried out with the utmost consideration for the health and safety of the host communities, the reality perceived by the locals tells a different story. They continue to live under the cloud of pollutants and cement dust released by the company’s chimney.
The residents of Ewekoro long for a better future, one in which they can coexist with environmentally-friendly industrial activities and where the company’s CSR initiatives genuinely benefit all segments of their community. The tragedy of Ewekoro serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of unchecked industrialization on vulnerable communities.
In light of this distressing situation, it is imperative for the authorities and relevant stakeholders to take meaningful action to address the grievances of the Ewekoro and Olapeleke communities. The call for justice and environmental restoration is one that cannot be overlooked, and the plight of these communities calls for urgent attention and redress.
