EX.CL/717 (XX)
Page 56
Communication 338/07 - Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project
(SERAP) v the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Summary of the Complaint:
1.
On 14 February 2007, the Secretariat of the African Commission on Human
and Peoples’ Rights (the Secretariat) received the present Communication from the
Complainant - Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) on behalf
of the people of Awori Community in Abule Egba in Lagos State, Nigeria, against the
Federal Republic of Nigeria (the Respondent State or Nigeria).34
2.
The Complainant alleges that the Respondent State violated the rights of the
people of Awori Community, following a pipeline explosion in Abule Egba on 26
December 2006, which resulted in loss of lives, physical and permanent injuries,
destruction of properties, environmental degradation, and other human rights
violations.
3.
The Complainant alleges that, for months, the Respondent State failed to deal
with the issue of fuel scarcity in the country, repair damaged pipelines, and inspect
these incidents. According to the Complainant, this led to young men and women
scooping fuel from damaged pipelines in order to sell and make a living.
4.
Furthermore, the Complainant alleges that after the explosion, the fire
department was ill-equipped to deal with the fire as they reportedly had no water or
equipment.
5.
The Complainant alleges that about 700 lives were lost including women and
children in the aftermath of the pipeline explosion. Furthermore, it submits that, the
environment has not been properly disinfected since the explosion, which could
cause an epidemic to the remaining residents of the area.
6.
The Complainant alleges that there has been environmental degradation, and
potential pollution of water, as a result of the explosion, which may amount to health
problems in the long run.
7.
According to the Complainant, the injured have also not been adequately
treated of their injuries and that some of them have died while in the hospital.
8.
The Complainant further alleges that the leaders of the Abule Egba
Community reported the matter to the Nigerian authorities and they were ignored.
9.
The Complainant alleges that due to the above-mentioned facts, the rights of
the people of Awori Community, which are guaranteed under the African Charter on
Human and Peoples’ Rights (the African Charter), have been violated by the
Respondent State.
34
Nigeria ratified the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on 22nd July 1983, and is
therefore a State Party.