Lagosians’ forceful parley with dumpsites

A refuse dumpsite in Lagos metropolis.
Photo: Dayo Ayeyemi

Dayo Ayeyemi, in this piece, takes a look at the implications of numerous dumpsites in Lagos State and the state government’s efforts towards making the dumpsites a beauty to behold.

IT is no longer news that Ojota dumpsite in Lagos State has become an object of ridicule to the state government and all its citizens. No thanks to obnoxious odour and smoke oozing from the dumpsite which many observers believe are among other forms of environmental pollution in the metropolis. Also of deteriorating state are the Igando and Abule Egba dumpsites at the Alimosho Local Government Area of the state.

It is not uncommon scenarios around these dumpsites seeing passers-by and commuters covering their mouths and noses with handkerchiefs when trekking or commuting around the dumpsites.

Experts have at different fora expressed concerns over the degradation of these dumpsites and the impending environmental and health hazards to the communities and residents living around affected areas.

Experts have, even, raised an alarm that water taking from dug wells and boreholes around these dumpsites should be screened to determine its suitability for consumption. They expressed fear that some of the dangerous compounds from dumped waste must have perforated the layer and rendered its water unfit.

They suggested that efforts be made towards building modern engineering landfill sites in different locations in Lagos. Residents of the adjoining properties to the dumpsites have also expressed concerns over what they described as their “own cross to bear” since they did not have any option of relocation.

According to Segun Ijalana, a student of the Lagos State University,Ojo, who lives around Igando, he relied much on pure water for consumption, pointing out that water from wells around his residence was not pure for domestic use.

Amos Aladeniyi, a fashion designer, while speaking with Lagos Life said that a doctor once told him that his frequent visits to the hospital was due to typhoid infection, which could be as a result of water consumed from boreholes in the area.

Apart from that, he told Lagos Life that residents always have poor visibility in the afternoon due to smoke from the dumpsite that covers the sky.

Also speaking, a staff of a corporate organisation at the Motorways complex, Ikeja, said there was need for urgent solution to the smoke emission from the Ojota dumpsite, pointing out that people around the dumpsite have problem in breathing during the work hour.

But reprieve seems to be on the way of these residents following government’s plan to clear 21 illegal dumpsites across the state. The effort was the determination of the state government to sustain current greening and beautification project as well as improve the state of the environment.

Some of the communities billed to benefit from the clearance of illegal dumpsites, according to the Commissioner for Environment in Lagos State, Dr. Muiz Banire, in recent interview, include Makoko, Iwaya, Badiya, Opebi link Road, Odo Iya Alaro, Agege, Mushin , Alimosho among others. Besides, the state government has started the construction of three additional modern landfill sites at Mowe, Ikorodu and Badagry respectively. They are expected to be ready before 2010.

The Commissioner hinted that 21 illegal dumpsites had been mapped out for clearance during the dry seasons, while assuring that his ministry would intensify efforts to beautify more loops, medians and highways across the state.

The commissioner also noted that the rapid urban transformation has forced the existing dumpsites at Olushosun, Igando and Abule Egba to be at centre of the city, stressing that the sites for new landfill sites would help to prevent possible outbreak of diseases.

He said that the government would use part of the grants it secured from the World Bank to prosecute the job, while horticultural firms were already employed to green and beautify loops across the state. Also, the state government was currently beautifying the dumpsites and highway loops across the state in order to ensure neat and safer environment for all Lagosians and visitors.

Justifying the projects, Banire said the state government was poised to restore the aesthetic value of the state through the implementation of sustainable environment development programme aimed at attaining a cleaner environment in the state.

He charged members of the public to support government crusade against environmental degradation and also warned youths in the state against using sanitation hours to play football.

He appealed to parents to call their wards to order, saying government would not condone any form of attitude capable of undermining the current beautification project embarked upon by the state government.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Muiz Banire, has appealed to all residents, property owners, landlords and corporate organisations along highways, airports and residential routes to commence the painting of their buildings and properties in order to improve the aesthetics of the state.

He stated that all residents should join hands in the on-going state-wide beatification and greening programme of the state government by ensuring that they rid their frontages of all forms of environmental nuisances, stressing that the task of building a new Lagos, devoid of any environmental degradation was a task for all of us.