Residents and traders in Ogun State have expressed fears of a possible cholera outbreak as poor waste management and indiscriminate refuse dumping continue to pose serious public health risks across the state.
Public Health Concerns Over Waste Crisis
Locals lament that heaps of uncollected refuse, blocked drainage channels, and poor sanitation practices have become common sights, particularly in densely populated areas. The situation has worsened with the onset of the rainy season, as waste materials are washed into water sources and residential areas, increasing the risk of waterborne diseases.
Residents are calling on the state government, local authorities, and environmental agencies to urgently evacuate waste, clear blocked drains, and intensify public health awareness campaigns to prevent a potential health crisis.
Sites of Indiscriminate Dumping
A visit to several parts of Abeokuta, including Kuto, Panseke, Totoro, Oke-Sokori, Oke-Ilewo, Itoku, and Saje, revealed that many residents routinely dump refuse along roadsides and on road medians, especially at night or early morning. A cross-section of Abeokuta residents has appealed to the state government to respond to waste managers’ demands for speedy evacuation to avoid a cholera outbreak.
Traders Voice Their Concerns
A fruit dealer at Kuto Market, Mrs. Rashidat Popoola, lamented the odor from a waste bin in the market, urging waste managers to improve and sustain waste evacuation. She noted that the foul smell has significantly reduced patronage for her fruit business, as customers find it hard to tolerate the odor near her stall. Waste heaps have been mounting at the market, not having been evacuated in over three weeks.
Market leader at Kuto, Saheed Oyewusi, urged waste managers not to endanger traders’ health, expressing concern over the delay in waste evacuation. The egg dealer appealed to the state government to create a task force to address indiscriminate refuse disposal at the market.
A pasta and egg seller at Oke-Sokori, Mrs. Folashade Yusuf, warned that if waste managers shut down operations, the consequences would be dangerous to human health. She appealed to the government to consider waste managers’ demands, stressing that the heap of waste in front of her stall has reduced patronage. She explained that people often come at night to dump waste.
The Manager of Lucid Vision Global at Panseke, Mr. Jude Chukwuka, commended the state government’s efforts for a cleaner environment but urged fencing off the dumpsite to prevent illegal dumping, accusing the public of indiscriminate waste disposal across the state.
At Iyana-Adigbe, Mrs. Florence John, who sells bread and Akara along the road, complained about waste dumped under the pedestrian bridge in front of her stall, noting that people abuse her when she tries to caution them. She warned that failure to tackle indiscriminate dumping could trigger a cholera outbreak, especially affecting children, and urged the government to punish offenders as a deterrent.
