- Residents warn of possible cholera outbreak due to waste accumulation
- Refuse heaps spotted across major areas in Abeokuta
- Government begins special waste evacuation operation
- Residents blame some private waste contractors for the crisis
Residents of Ogun State have raised concerns over a possible Cholera outbreak following heaps of refuse scattered along major roads and around markets in Abeokuta, the state capital, and other communities.
They warned that the growing waste dumps pose serious environmental and health risks if urgent action is not taken.
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Passers-by, traders, motorists and transport union members said the increasing piles of refuse in parts of the capital could trigger disease outbreaks, urging Governor Dapo Abiodun to direct the Ogun State Waste Management Authority (OGWAMA) to intensify waste evacuation across the state.
However, the Managing Director of OGWAMA, Farouk Akintunde, said the agency had already begun a “special operation” to clear indiscriminate waste dumps in strategic areas.
Akintunde added that the agency had also reinstated its night operation, which had been suspended months ago, to tackle the waste crisis and restore environmental cleanliness across the state.
According to him, all operational equipment has been deployed across major towns in the state.
“All the machinery of the authority has now been deployed to different parts of the state, and the operation is ongoing simultaneously, especially in major towns such as Abeokuta, Sango-Ota, Ijebu-Ode, and Ifo,” he said.
He urged residents to avoid dumping refuse on roadsides or medians, advising them to hand over waste to designated collectors or properly package it in front of their homes for collection.
Despite the ongoing operation, checks revealed that heaps of refuse remained in several areas including Kuto, Panseke, Sokori, Ori-Omi, Ifo, Sango-Ota, and Ijebu-Ode.
Residents partly blamed the situation on the failure of some Private Sector Participants (PSPs) responsible for waste collection to perform their duties.
A passer-by, Ojo Fawenu, expressed concern over a large heap of refuse near Polaris Bank, saying pedestrians and bank customers often cover their noses while passing the area.
“The state government should direct the agency responsible to evacuate the waste as soon as possible. It can lead to diseases like cholera and it is very unpleasant,” he said.
A resident of Oke-Ilewo, Emmanuel Udoh, urged OGWAMA to ensure private waste contractors carry out their responsibilities effectively.
“When the rains start, the waste will be washed into other areas and it can cause disease outbreaks. The authorities in charge should act quickly,” he said.
A trader, Tunrayo Adegboyega, also called on the state government to set up a task force to prevent indiscriminate dumping of refuse, faeces and dead animals near her stall opposite Access Bank.
Meanwhile, a member of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Sodiq Alowonle, urged the government to arrest individuals who dump refuse on road medians and roadsides.
He said the unpleasant smell around Panseke Garage sometimes discourages passengers from coming to board vehicles.
At Kuto Market, refuse heaps were seen spilling into nearby drainage channels and spreading towards parts of the market, with traders complaining about the persistent stench.
A vegetable trader identified as Iyabo said the odour from the waste often drives customers away.
“We come here every morning to sell our goods, but the smell from the waste is terrible. Sometimes customers complain before buying anything,” she said.
Drivers and transport operators also complained that the refuse sometimes spreads onto the road, forcing pedestrians to avoid stepping on it and occasionally causing traffic congestion.
Residents therefore appealed to the state government to urgently address the situation to prevent a possible Cholera outbreak, noting that many schoolchildren pass through the affected areas daily.