The Chinese embassy in Nigeria has hurriedly expressed support for calls to clean up the Osun River, which feeds into the densely inhabited Lagos lagoon, following months of reporting that Chinese mining companies are partly responsible for polluting the waterway with heavy metals.

The embassy Tweeted a statement pledging vague support to cleanup efforts, and saying it “will work together with the Chinese Consulate General in Lagos to collect vital information so as to study the situation.” It also called on Lagos residents to send data and images of the problem to the embassy, to aid their research.

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