Due to the recent high rate of cholera cases in Ogun State, concerns have been raised by residents residing along Quarry Road in the Abeokuta South Local Government Area. These concerns primarily revolve around the rampant and indiscriminate dumping of refuse along this road.
Residents, who shared their apprehensions with PUNCH Metro on Monday, expressed fears that if immediate measures are not taken to address the issue of haphazard refuse disposal, it could exacerbate the already escalating cholera outbreak.
During a visit by our correspondent to the extended stretch of Quarry Road, which connects several communities to the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, it was evident that refuse had been heedlessly dumped in the road’s median at various points. Furthermore, a substantial pile of refuse was observed in front of an abandoned piece of land.
According to these concerned residents, the refuse dumps not only pose a significant health hazard but could also contribute to the ongoing surge in cholera cases witnessed in various parts of the state.
A resident named Akinde Raman emphasized the imprudence of dumping refuse on the road, noting that it can lead to an array of issues. He stated, “Dumping refuse on the road is improper, but you know when there is no alternative for people to dispose of their refuse, we will have a situation like this. The problems associated with this are enormous; apart from causing environmental odors, the recent outbreak of cholera in Ogun can escalate with a situation like this.”
Another resident, Wale Shoneye, attributed the indiscriminate dumping of refuse to irregular waste collection by the local waste management agency. He explained, “People resort to dumping refuse on the road because the waste management personnel do not frequently collect refuse. Sometimes, they only show up once a month, and occasionally, you may not see them in the community for two months.”
Esther Thomas, another resident along the road, urged the Ogun State Government to provide suitable waste bins in the area, which would discourage people from using the road as a refuse dump. She said, “As you can see, there is no waste bin around here, which I think is the reason why people are dumping refuse on the road. If the government can provide a waste bin somewhere around here, people will stop dumping refuse on the road.”
Responding to these concerns, Rotimi Oduniyi, the Press Officer of the Ogun State Ministry of Environment, placed the blame on residents for their laziness in disposing of refuse in designated areas equipped with waste bins. He emphasized that efforts were underway to clear the refuse from the road.
Oduniyi stated, “It is not the government that is dumping refuse there; it’s our people who are dumping it there because they are lazy. We have a designated place at Panseke for them to dump the refuse, but many of them are lazy to go there. Efforts are being made to clear the refuse because the government has not neglected the refuse there. Additionally, most of the PSPs we are using are private enterprises, and they’ve complained that people don’t bring out their refuse when they reach the communities. We have asked people to have refuse bins in their homes where the PSP can pick it up, but they would not.”
