Environment

Drowning in Mounting Refuse…

By Web News 347

….Traders Appeal for Evacuation

By Olaitan Oye-Adeitan

Akala complex in Dugbe area of Ibadan is a popular market noted for the sale of fairly used clothes also known as ‘Akube or bend down boutique”.

The market is heavily patronized by Ibadan residents and visitors as it is well stocked with various clothing materials of different shades, styles and purposes to meet the various needs of both the young and old.

The complex also accommodates tailors who are always on standby to adjust clothes just purchased to customers’ size or to quickly sow new materials.

Such is the nature of the work of some group of women whose sowing machines are stationed at a corner of the market.

However, very close to where these women work to earn their means of livelihood is this heap of refuse and other dirt oozing out a foul smell. One may even be mistaking the corner for a refuse dumb but for the kind of business activities going on there.

Findings from one of the tailors who spoke under anonymity revealed that the refuse which keeps mounting up daily had been left unevacuated for about six months.

The tailor expressed great displeasure that despite the fact that each trader pays thirty-six thousand naira yearly for the evacuation of the refuse, it has been left unattended while they keep suffering the discomfort posed and exposed to health hazards.

A customer, Mrs Funmi Owoloja decried the situation, affirming that the refuse had been left for a very long time.”In fact, I’ve been coming here for the past six months. This is how I always meet this dustbin here and in fact, the odour. We, coming here as customers at times, find it difficult to sit down here. The place is really smelling. They are running their business here and customers are coming here, is not healthy at all”.

The traders are appealing to the Oyo state Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources to help them look into the horrible situation to save them from possible epidemics.

Environment

Open defecation, indiscriminate dumping of refuse punishable– Oyo Govt.

By Web News 440

By Oluwakayode Banjo

Oyo State Government says it is set to punish individuals who defecate in the open and indiscriminately dump refuse.

It said this is part of efforts to help reduce significantly or completely eradicate cases of open defecation in the state.

The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, disclosed this at a 2-day media dialogue on open defecation in the South-West states, held in Ibadan.

The gathering, which was sponsored by UNICEF, was attended by media executives from the five south-west states.

Prince Oyelade added that the move to penalise open defecators and indiscriminate dumping of refuse was part of efforts aimed at achieving the national target of ending open defecation in Nigeria by 2027.

He stated that the Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde has unequivocally mandated the Ministry of Justice to ensure the prosecution of anyone who dumps refuses or defecates openly in the State.

Prince Oyelade said the penalty when fully in place, would promote behavioural change in the hygiene of citizens and curb open defecation.

He said, “Oyo State Government is willing to effect the necessary behavioural change in open defecation, working with UNICEF’s WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) action plan. 

“In Oyo State, we have adopted the WASH action plan, and if need be, we will back it up with legislation,” Prince Oyelade added.

“And the Ministry of Justice has been mandated to penalise defecators and those dumping refuse in illegal sites. Also, law enforcement agencies will do their bit.”

“It is sad that Nigeria has taken over from Egypt by recording the highest rate of open defecation,” he said.

Prince Dotun Oyelade said the Oyo State Government, before 2027, will ensure much improvement in the social menaces and all other diseases plaguing the state.

He therefore appealed to residents to patronise Government waste Consultants and stop the unhygienic practice of open defecation. 

He said, “To this end, billboards will be erected at major junctions and entry points of the State, to discourage anyone from practising any environmental infractions, and the penalties.

He added, “The Oyo State government is bent on ensuring residents obey the law of social etiquette.”

Prince Oyelade pledged the Oyo State Government’s continued partnership with UNICEF to ensure Oyo State is open defecation-free.

Earlier, UNICEF WASH Specialist, Mr. Monday Johnson revealed that according to the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, about 48 million Nigerians are practising open defecation. 

Mr. Johnson said the disposal of human faeces in the open, including fields, forests, bushes, open bodies of water and other open spaces in a common practice in the country.

He said though Oyo State has one of the highest data of unhygienic practices of open defecation in the South-West, UNICEF is glad that it has progressively started actions to end open defecation.

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Environment

Group Sends SOS to Oyo Govt over Iseyin Refuse Heaps

By Web News 648

A Socio-Cultural group of Iseyin descent, Ebedi Frontliners, Iseyin (E.F.I) has written a Save Our Soul (S.O.S) letter to the Oyo State government and the Chairman of Iseyin Local Government, Iseyin, Hon. Mufutau Abilawon, to urgently find a lasting solution to refuse evacuation system in the community, especially as it affected the community’s main market at Oja-Oba.

In a statement made available to newsmen, members of the group raised concern over the possible break of an epidemic as a result of heaps of refuse that they claimed littered the median divides along the Oja-Oba road, where many traders sit to sell foodstuffs, fresh fruits and other consumable goods at the market.
The statement, which was signed by the Ebedi Frontliners’ Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Segun Fasasi stated that the refuse evacuation method which took place once a week was unhealthy as mountains of refuse always adorned the roadsides before the once in a week evacuation exercise usually take place.
“We have observed over a period of time and have discovered that despite the increase in the number of residents as well as market men and women, the refuse is often heavily deposited on the main road and on the divider kerbs before the refuse is evacuated eventually, the disgusting sight and horrible smell that the refuse emits are second to none, apart from this, the situation becomes unhealthier as one realizes that the location is the area where most of the food items we consume are sold, the residents, passersby and shop owners are not safe from possible health hazard.
“To address this problem, we suggest that be evacuated daily or on alternate days till other remedies are found for easy refuse evacuation, to forestall accumulation of waste, environmental pollution and the possible health hazards that may result from there.”
The group used the medium to also call the attention of the State’s Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources to the poor working condition of streetlights in the community, as they said the ‘Light Up Oyo State’ project, which was well conceived to serve many good purposes in the State might become a mirage if not well maintained.
They called for immediate completion of ongoing streetlight projects in the community, while those already in place be made to work regularly, in order to serve the needs of the people in the area of stamping out criminalities and promoting social life, especially at the night.
“The case of the streetlights not being put to good use are the ones erected on the Iseyin township dual-carriageway, which since completion had only been lighted on rare occasions, to our dismay, new ones are being erected on other roads across the town and despite government allocation to power and maintain these new streetlights, the service provided is not satisfactory.
“Before the newly-installed streetlights become moribund like those installed during the last administration, we beseech your office for speedy attention on the said projects by repairing the old streetlights on our highways, complete the current project and make them all functional as envisioned by our amiable governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde,” they appealed.
Iyabo Adebisi