Osiele Market Traders Express Fear Over Disease Outbreak From Waste

JP Ashedzi

Citizens and traders in the Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun State have expressed deep concern over the location of the refuse dump site in the local government.
The traders in the Osiele Market have most especially expressed fear of disease outbreak over the closeness of the refuse dump site to their shops and stalls.

The traders also told Journalists that apart from the dangers it poses to their health, the situation has also reduced their sales as customers are unable to withstand the stench that oozes out of the refuse heap before it is cleared and would rather patronize traders whose stores are far from the refuse bin.

A trader, who sells used clothes, identified as Michael told Journalists that the refuse truck should be placed in a place far from their shops and not by the entrance of the market.

“Positioning the refuse bin at the entrance of the market is dangerous to our health. This could lead to disease outbreaks. Our health is at risk. It shouldn’t be positioned here but in a place far from the market,” he said.

Michael, who commended the government for clearing the refuse promptly, called for an urgent solution to the odor they inhale before it is cleared.

Another trader, called Mummy Easy, told our correspondent that the positioning of the refuse bin was dangerous, saying it occupied a huge part of the road.

“It is already on the road and vehicles find it difficult to park. There are many reckless drivers on the road and this can lead to accidents. It also contributes to traffic on market days,” she said.

A passerby, Temitope Oderinde said she found it difficult to breathe whenever she passed through the market road, noting that the smell that oozes out of the refuse truck had stopped her from patronizing traders around its perimeters.

When contacted, the Head of Media, Ogun State Waste Management Authority, Rotimi Oduniyi, said market leaders agreed that the bin should be positioned at the entrance of the market as there was no other suitable place for it.

He said, “There is no other place to put the bin because the anterior part of the market is choked. We agreed with the market leaders to place it there, but what we do is to lift it and we do that as quickly as possible.

“Before we place any waste bin in any market in Ogun State, we liaise with the market leaders and the traders on where it will be convenient for them and us as well, so that it will be easy for us to lift. So, if they have any complaints, they will tell us and we have not received any complaints as of now.”