In the heart of Ogun State, a community grapples with an ominous presence that threatens the lives and livelihoods of its resilient residents and traders. JOHNSON IDOWU writes about the struggle, resilience and battle for a healthier, safer environment caused by indiscriminate refuse dumping in Agunloye market, Ado-Odo Ota Local Government Area
The genesis
Nestled within the picturesque landscape of Ogun State lies a vibrant community, Ado town, teeming with life and commerce. For generations, this community has thrived as a hub of commerce with a bustling market as well as vibrant and hardworking traders who contribute to the South-West’s economic vitality.
However, beneath this facade of flourishing commerce and daily life, an issue of critical importance has taken root, threatening not only the livelihoods of its residents but also the very health and well-being of the traders alike.
The issue revolves around an indiscriminate refuse dump that has grown in size and notoriety over the years. Initially, it started as an inconspicuous mound, but overtime, it morphed into a menacing presence.
This is the sad reality faced by residents, traders and visitors at the Agunloye market in Ado town, Ado-Odo Ota Local government area of Ogun State.
The origins of this issue are rooted in a complex web of factors, from insufficient waste management infrastructure to a lack of awareness and regulatory enforcement. Over time, the problem has grown, spreading its influence far beyond the confines of the dumping site. The waste not only poses health risks but also raises questions about the community’s environmental sustainability especially at a time when the state is faced with the outbreak of cholera that has left no fewer than 20 persons dead.
This indiscriminate refuse dump is not just an eyesore; it is also a looming health hazard, affecting the lives of residents and traders, including children, who depended on the nearby marketplace for their livelihoods. The dump site is a breeding ground for diseases, a potential time bomb that could unleash a wave of health crises upon the traders and their families.
Residents, traders groan
Approaching the market, one can easily sight some of the traders, who, perhaps, do not have other alternatives where they can sell their goods, covering their noses as a way of preventing the odour oozing out from the heap of refuse located at the centre of the market to find its way into their belly.
Musa, a pepper vendor in the market, with his salt-and-peppered beard, has been a figure in the marketplace for decades. His wrinkled face tells the story of countless sunrise and sunsets spent trading in the market. “I’ve seen this place change,” he said, gazing at the refuse dump. “It used to be clean and green. Now, we’re living in fear of diseases because of that dump.” He stressed further that, “If you observed well, the refuse heap is some metres away from houses across the market. If you get to our health centre, there are several reports of health issues which had been linked to the refuse dump. Although the market activities come up every five days, the dangers of the odour coming from the market have put the residents at health risks.”
Mrs Risikat Obe, a middle-aged woman with a warm smile, has been selling her wares in the marketplace for years. “This place is my lifeline,” she said. “But every day, I worry about my health and my customers’ health too. This refuse has caused sickness to residents of this area due to the stench coming out from the refuse heap. We are at the risk of diseases because of the odour that comes from the refuse heap especially when it rains.”
Martin Owusu, a plastic patcher with a penchant for storytelling, reflected on his daily struggles. “I’ve patched countless of pairs of plastic,” he said, ‘But the dump keeps growing, and with it, our troubles. I am mostly affected by the odour coming from this refuse. Anytime I set out to come to this market, my heart skips in anticipation of the bad smell I will be exposed to. At a point, I had to get zinc to block this part (pointing to the side of the refuse closer to his stall) so that it would not roll over to my stall but whenever it rains, the odour is always unbearable. Something has to be done about the refuse dump.”
Elder Jimoh Ojugbele, a revered figure, remembered the market’s history. “I’ve seen this place transform,” he reflected. “We used to take pride in our environment but now, this refuse dump has overshadowed our legacy.”
He expressed fear that his daily exposure to the odour coming from the refuse might send him to his grave. “I am an old man, I have been weaving mats and baskets for a long time in this market. I still continue in this work to keep myself active but it is so sad that I am now exposed to stench oozing from this refuse. My plan is to enjoy my old days while keeping myself active with the profession I’ve loved and do most part of my life but it is a pity that I can’t seem to enjoy myself again. This odour is beginning to cause sickness and I fear it may lead to death.
“I am now entangled in-between staying at home and being hungry or coming to the market and getting exposed to this danger, but I don’t have any choice than to come to the market because of survival. If the government cannot help the aged persons like me, they should at least alleviate this pain caused by the refuse,” he narrated with a grin face.
Schoolchildren at risk
The marketplace is not the only place within the community that suffers from indiscriminate refuse dump. On the land hosting the Alamuwa Grammar School is a heap of refuse that has taken over a large expanse of the land. Opposite this heap and within an arm’s length is located Olaiya Primary School.
Passing through the location of this refuse, our correspondent was greeted with a bad smell emanating from the refuse which was closer to the learning environment of students of Olaiya Primary School.
The school’s headmaster, Adesina Yahya, lamented that students of the School are being exposed to the refuse which had grown over the years.
“I joined this school in 2018 and this was the situation I met. I was so concerned because I know the health implications of having a school close to a dumpsite especially when the students are young ones. I have made several efforts to see that something could be done but nothing has come up. What I do to manage the situation is to ensure that we burn the refuse regular so that we can mitigate the level of stench coming out from it. The situation is worrisome,” Yahya lamented.
A source in the Alamuwa Grammar School noted that though the dump site is situated on the school’s land, the distance between the dumpsite and classrooms has made the impact minimal on the students except for those who may just be passing by the route.
Open refuse dump can cause diseases, air pollution, experts
The indiscriminate refuse dump at the centre of the market located within the heart of the community not only blights the landscape but poses severe health risks that have raised deep concerns for experts.
A 2014 study published in the journal ‘Environmental Health Perspectives’, examined the impact of solid waste disposal on the incidence of cholera.
The researchers found that areas with improper solid waste disposal had a significantly higher risk of cholera outbreaks, even after having control over other risk factors. They also noted that the risk was higher during the rainy season when heavy rains can cause flooding and the spreading of contaminated water.
Another finding of the study was that the risk of cholera was particularly high in informal settlements, where a majority of the residents do not have access to proper sanitation facilities.
Overall, the researchers concluded that improving solid waste disposal would be an important step in reducing the risk of cholera.
In another study by Felicia Babs-Shomoye and Russell Kabir, published by the Journal of Public Health in Developing Countries, the researchers found that open dumping is very common in developing countries like Nigeria, and poses a risk to human health and the environment. Waste not properly managed has been known to have a negative impact on health, environment and aesthetic values.
It was also found that waste dumps near living areas are detrimental to good health. Waste dump can serve as a breeding ground for mosquitoes, fly, rodents and rats. These animals can transmit diseases to human beings either from the waste dump itself or other related sources. Inappropriate disposal of solid waste could be risky which often manifests by contamination of surface and ground water through leachate, air pollution by burning of wastes, soil contamination through direct waste contact, uncontrolled release of methane by anaerobic decomposition of waste or spreading of diseases by different vectors like birds, insects and rodents.
To corroborate the above, a Lagos-based environmentalist, Dr Hassan Sanuth, noted that any refuse dump in a marketplace posed a threat to the environment as it could result in land and water pollution which can be detrimental to the health of the residents.
He said, “Indiscriminate refuse dump in a community causes pollution of the air, land and surface or underground water. Air pollution resulting from putrification of organic compound in the waste thereby releasing gaseous pollutants such as methane, carbon dioxide as well as oxides of nitrogen and sulphides with their characteristic odours.
“Land Pollution resulted from the accumulation of this refuse, littering, as well as residual presence of organic and inorganic compound in the soil. Sometimes, with some metals that may bioaccumulate in agricultural products thereby rendering the soil non suitable for farming and the likes.”
Apart from air pollution, Sanatu noted that the water sources around a dumpsite could also be contaminated which can pose threat to the quality of water generated from boreholes and wells within the environment.
“Water pollution due to the seepage or transport of the waste and components into the surface water bodies (Rivers, lagoon, lakes etc.) that are being used for domestic and commercial purposes in the community. Also could pollute the underground water (Borehole and Wells) through percolation of these components into the ground.
“Accumulation on land may lead to breeding of diseases vectors, degradation of land, death of sensitive biodiversity in water and on land. Long-term impact could include food insecurity, disease outbreak and socio-economic loss,” he concluded.
Speaking on the impact of the refuse dump on public health, a Public health expert, Professor Tanimola Akande, noted that communities with indiscriminate refuse dump are at risk of diseases like malaria, diarrhea and respiratory illnesses.
“Refuse dump is a common feature of many towns and cities in Nigeria. This is as a result of poor waste disposal. Refuse dumps are risk factors to some diseases that are spread through contamination of water sources. They also provide breeding place for mosquitoes and rodents.
“These may lead to diseases like malaria and diarrhoea diseases. Burning of refuse dumps also cause air pollution that may lead to respiratory diseases Sight of refuse dumps can also have social and psychological effects,” Akande said.
Pleas for help met with unfulfilled promises
“We have made efforts to reach out to the local government authorities but they said the vehicles that can be used to evacuate the refuse are not working and since then it has been promises upon promises,” says Batunde Bakare, the Ado market leader.
He was not left alone in the quest for finding solution to the looming hazard that the refuse dump posed. Community leaders like Mrs Amoleogun and Adeyinka Adelaja, also recounted how their plea for solution has been met with unfulfilled promises. “We’ve reached out to local authorities but nothing has been done,” Amoleogun and Adelaja echoed in unison.
Efforts were made by the Ado-Odo Area Community Development Association executives. The chairman of the community association, Shafar Asade, said, “We have made several effort to see that the refuse is being removed from the market but nothing has been achieved. Personally, I put a call to the Local government chairman but he did not pick my calls, I also sent him a message on WhatsApp which was not replied to even when it showed that my message has been read. I later learnt that he forwarded the message to the Health Educator in our zone here who came to inspect the refuse but nothing has been done still.”
We are working on a solution, government reacts
The response of government authorities to the refuse dump issue has been a topic of great interest and scrutiny. It’s a challenge that has spurred action, as government officials recognize the gravity of the situation.
The state’s Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, shares his perspective: “We acknowledge the community’s concerns, and we’re committed to a sustainable solution. We are working to enhance waste disposal and provide the necessary resources to address this challenge.
“Our plan is to distribute big waste containers to markets. The situation of refuse is mostly in rural communities, if you get to markets in urban areas across the State, you cannot see situation like this. Markets in Abeokuta, Ijebu-Ode, Mowe and Sagamu are well monitored. It is not as if we neglected those communities. Now that you have informed me, necessary action will be taken,” Oresanya concluded.
Experts advocate for awareness, proper waste management to tackle indiscriminate refuse dump
Stressing on how indiscriminate refuse dump can be curbed in the community, Professor Akande noted that constant awareness and proper waste management by relevant agencies can help to prevent the menace and prevent the mitigating effects that could arise from it.
He said, “There are preventive measures to indiscriminate refuse disposal. This includes proper waste management from home level up to community level. Wastes generated from residences and workplaces need to be properly disposed of in covered waste bins in preparation for evacuation to final disposal using environmentally friendly methods. The evacuation of refuse needs to be done regularly to prevent being risk to health of people.
“Communities need to work closely and cooperate with environmental health officers in ensuring that wastes are regularly and properly disposed of. Government at all levels needs to address the challenge of indiscriminate refuse disposal by providing a means for waste disposal and prompt evacuation of such wastes. Appropriate sanctions need to be put in place against those who practise improper waste disposal. Government needs to encourage the various waste to wealth schemes.”
In his submission, Sanatu, corroborated the opinion of Professor Akande stating that proper sensitisation of residents in the community and establishment of a waste disposing point is necessary to prevent the environmental and health issues associated with indiscriminate refuse dump.
“Relevant advocacy and awareness campaign be instituted in the community, designation of waste deposition point, encouragement of sorting and recycling of waste materials (plastics, metal, paper etc.) while organic waste can go nutrient enrichment/compost,” Sanatu concluded.
