FJA 2019
Category: Excellence in Environmental Journalism
First Prize
ISAAC ANYAOGU (Nigeria), PETRA SORGE (Germany)
DYING IN INSTALMENTS
Part 1
Dying in instalments: How lead battery recyclers are poisoning Nigerians
BusinessDay Media Ltd, Nigeria - December 14, 2018
The original publication is available via the following link:
A three-month investigation uncovers how companies recycling lead acid batteries are poisoning air, soil and water sources in Ogun and Lagos states leaving workers and residents with scary levels of lead in their blood and leading experts to conclude these Nigerians are dying in instalments, writes Isaac Anyaogu and Petra Sorge.
This investigation was supported by the European Centre for Journalism and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Petra Sorge, freelance journalist from Germany assisted with the research for the story.
Part 2
Dying in instalment: Foreign buyers pile pressure on polluting company
December 17, 2018 - BusinessDay Media Ltd, Nigeria
The original publication is available via the following link:
Two weeks after blood tests confirmed a link between lead acid battery recycling by Everest Metals Nigeria Ltd is poisoning Ipetoro community in Ogun state, the investigation shifts to foreign car makers who buy lead ingots from the company.
Two weeks after blood tests confirmed a link between lead acid battery recycling by Everest Metals Nigeria Ltd is poisoning Ipetoro community in Ogun state, the investigation shifts to foreign car makers who buy lead ingots from the company. When confronted with evidence of the company’s dangerous operations, they rethink their business relationships, writes Isaac Anyaogu and Petra Sorge.
This investigation was supported by the European Centre for Journalism and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Petra Sorge, freelance journalist from Germany assisted with the research for the story.
Part 3
Dying in instalment: How failure of regulation contributed to lead pollution
December 18, 2018 - BusinessDay Media Ltd, Nigeria
The original publication is available via the following link:
The third part of this investigation uncovers how regulatory failure allowed lead acid battery recyclers without even the requisite government approvals to operate with reckless abandon and endanger the lives of many Nigerians, writes Isaac Anyaogu and Petra Sorge.
This investigation was supported by the European Centre for Journalism and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Petra Sorge, freelance journalist from Germany assisted with the research for the story.