Ogun community fears disease outbreak, seeks dump relocation
Ogun community fears disease outbreak, seeks dump relocation
Residents and traders in the Pakuro area of Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area, Ogun State, have called on the state government to relocate an illegal dumpsite in the community, expressing fears that it could trigger a disease outbreak.
A visit to the area on Sunday revealed a huge heap of refuse along the road, releasing a foul stench into the environment.
Commuters waiting for commercial buses were also forced to endure the unpleasant odour from the site.
In separate interviews, residents lamented that the dumpsite had made breathing difficult due to the offensive smell constantly oozing from it.
They blamed the growing heaps on the absence of waste collectors and improper waste disposal.
A business owner, Okafor Sunday, lamented that the offensive stench from the waste affected them and made breathing very difficult.
Sunday said, “As we are sitting here, we can barely breathe because of the odour coming from the refuse dump.
The government has refused to do its job, and it is killing us slowly.”
Another resident, who identified simply as Peace, explained that the community members had resorted to burning their waste since the waste management agency officials had been negligent in their duties.
“It has been almost three months since the waste management officials came to collect the waste.
So, some community members pack the waste together and burn it every Thursday.
But the smoke from the burning is also unbearable and dangerous for our health.”
A trader identified as Godwin explained that the dirt had also blocked the drainage and prevented water from flowing properly, which is another source of pollution.
According to him, “The refuse smells so bad, especially when the weather is hot, and even in the rainy season.
Another thing is that it blocks the drainage through which water passes, and so there are potholes everywhere, which also causes a bad smell.”
He further appealed to the government to help fix the waste disposal and pollution problem.
He said, “The government should help us provide a proper way to dispose of our waste, because the way the refuse is dumped indiscriminately is really harmful to our health.”
When contacted on Sunday, the Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, confirmed that the government had commenced efforts to clear the waste in the community.
He stated that the necessary steps were being taken, adding that he had directed the Managing Director of the Ogun State Waste Management Authority, Abayomi Hunye, to shut down the dumpsite without delay.
“The MD has been instructed to close the dump immediately, and I am confident he will act swiftly,” Oresanya said in a telephone interview.
The spread of illegal dumpsites has remained a major concern for both residents and the government.
Earlier in February, Oresanya had expressed worry over their increasing number in some parts of the state, noting that the ministry was working to shut them down pending the full operation of the state’s waste management system.
