Refuse dumps take over Anambra roads, residents fear epidemic breakout

More than half of some major roads in Anambra communities have been taken over by heaps of refuse thereby making both human and vehicular movement almost difficult.

A visit around some locations on Wednesday observed that major drainage channels, especially in the Onitsha metropolis have also been blocked as a result of indiscriminate dumping of refuse by residents and traders in the areas.

The refuse dumps in some cases have encroached on the streets, blocking drainage, and defacing the aesthetic of the neighbourhoods.

The refuse in these locations, including the Upper Iweka junction, both ends of the Oguta Road, the MCC junction, Egerton Main Market road, Okpoko, all in Onitsha, the Unizik junction, Awka, some parts of Nnewi and Nnobi, were as tall as a storey building.

For example, behind the motor parks at Upper, in Onitsha, the drainage running through the main road has heaps of refuse which remained an eyesore, even as passersby always cover their nostrils while crossing the road as a result of the stench.

Some of the residents, who spoke to our correspondent, said it was disheartening to note that the refuse collectors have not come to clear the refuse three months to the exit of the last administration, despite the monthly bill they bring.

A resident of Oguta Road, Chinwe Nda, lamented the poor management of the wastes in the metropolis by the Anambra State Waste Management Authority, despite the huge monthly bills residents pay.

Nda said, “For over five months now, the waste managers have not come to clear the refuse, despite the monthly bills we pay. They have started burning refuse in some of the dumpsites and thereby causing pollution, especially in this hot weather.

“The method they adopt in clearing the refuse is also another cause for worry, sometimes, they pack the wastes with their bare hands and shovels into their trucks and when they eventually carry the refuse, you see them spreading the garbage on the roads and this is not good at all,” he stated.

Another resident, who identified himself as Joseph Nwabueze, bemoaned the situation, saying that if nothing is done urgently, especially as the rainy season approaches, “it is going to be more hazardous and the health of the people within this area is at stake. The food, water, and air might get contaminated.”

While lamenting the poor state of waste management, the State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, during his visit to the Okpoko community in the Ogbaru Local Government Area, on March 18, a day after his inauguration, told the people to be positively conscious of their environment by ensuring that wastes are handled properly.

The governor cautioned the people to stop dumping refuse around drainage channels and assured them that wastebaskets would be installed at strategic places in the community so as to ensure proper management of waste.

All efforts to reach state government officials, including the state Waste Management Authority proved abortive as the calls to the agency’s official line were not returned and messages sent to their complaint line were not also responded to. (The PUNCH)