Residents and traders in Pakuro, Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State, are appealing to the state government to relocate an illegal dumpsite in their community, warning that it could trigger a major disease outbreak.
When visited on Sunday, the site was covered with a massive heap of refuse that emitted a strong stench, forcing passersby and commuters waiting for buses to endure the foul odour.
Locals who spoke in interviews expressed frustration, saying the dumpsite had made breathing difficult. They attributed the worsening situation to poor waste disposal and the absence of waste collection services.
A business owner, Okafor Sunday, lamented:
“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, Peace, revealed that the community had turned to burning their own refuse due to neglect by waste management officials.
“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, Godwin, highlighted how the heaps had blocked drainages, worsening pollution and sanitation problems.
“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 appealed to the authorities for intervention, saying:
“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.”
Responding to the concerns, the Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, confirmed that steps had been taken to address the problem.
“I have instructed the Managing Director, Ogun State Waste Management Authority, Abayomi Hunye, to close the dump immediately. I am very sure that he will do the needful promptly,” he said in a telephone conversation.
The state government had earlier acknowledged the spread of illegal dumps across Ogun and promised to shut them down as part of a wider waste management reform.
Advertisement
