It appears the Ogun State Government has turned a blind eye to the looming epidemic in the state as residents turn major roads into refuse dumpsites.
This is also as government employed cleaners across major cities abandoned their duties
Ogun state indigenes are now worried that there might be an outbreak of diseases, if nothing is done to address the situation.
DAILY POST reports that the Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Abiodun Abudu-Balogun, recently said his ministry would wage war against those dumping refuse by the roadside and in drainages.
But our correspondent, who went round town reports that major roads in the state, especially Abeokuta, have been designed with heaps of refuse.
It was observed that residents of Ogun now dump waste anywhere, as no rules or enforcement against indiscriminate dumping of refuse.
For instance, the multi-exit pedestrian bridge at the everbusy Panseke in Abeokuta has now become a harbour of refuse and destitutes.
At different locations on the long bridge, our reporter came across wastes of different kinds; creating impressions that the authorities are not alive to their responsibilities.
Residents are worried that the failure of government to take necessary measures in keeping the state clean might spell doom for Ogun, especially at a time when different diseases like Coronavirus, Lassa fever and others are threatening the nation.
A trader, Mrs Taiwo Ayilara, who spoke to DAILY POST, expressed concerns that the state has become too dirty, compared to what it used to be during the previous administration of Gov Ibikunle Amosun.
Ayilara, who has a shop at Sapon area of the state capital, said she would not understand the reason why the state government stopped street sweepers from keeping the roads clean as it used to be before the Government of Gov Dapo Abiodun came on board on May 29, 2019.
DAILY POST recalls that a group known as Gateway Media Organisation had told Gov Abiodun, at the beginning of his administration, to pay utmost attention to issues concerning the sanitation of the environment, especially as it has to do with waste management.
The convener of the group, Damilare Oloyede said Ogun has become too dirty, adding that reports from Abeokuta, Ilaro, Mowe, Ota, Ijebu-Ode, Sagamu, Akute, Ogijo and other areas have shown that Abiodun’s was lagging behind in managing waste and keeping the environment clean.
DAILY POST observed that nothing has improved more than six months after the group made known its observation.
“In my area in Lafenwa Abeokuta, the previous government stopped people from dumping waste in some areas. But, now they have started again. This is because the present government is not waging war against indiscriminate dumping of refuse.
“Look at it, there could be an outbreak of cholera or Lassa Fever. Moreover, we as a nation and the entire world is still battling with Coronavirus; this is not a time to be careless with anything that has to do with the environment,” Mr Lamidi Akinwunmi said in a chat with our correspondent.
Mr Kunle Jooda, a resident of Abeokuta North said: “As I drive around the city of Abeokuta on Tuesday, all I could see were heaps of refuse here and there. If it were to be in one location, it would not have caught my attention, but it is everywhere, right there on the road.
“From Panseke down to Sapon, Ita Oshin, Kuto Olomore, Obantoko and others, the roads are littered with all sorts of wastes. I didn’t expect this kind of dirt in the state capital. You see wastes dumped on the expressway without anyone doing anything about it.”
A trader at Panseke told our correspondent that refuse collectors have started coming recently.
“Those collecting refuse have been coming now. Before, we don’t see them at all. But, they have not been doing it well like it used to be in previous years. Go on that bridge and see what I’m saying. Look at how filthy everywhere is. Those women that used to sweep, we don’t see them again. That’s why everywhere is dirty,” the trader said anonymously.
Our correspondent reports that state government, recently said it has commenced house-to-house refuse collection to keep the environment free from filth and to maintain a safe and clean state.
The Environment Commissioner, Abudu-Balogun said the present government met a “very filthy” environment, especially in the major cities.
For this reason, the state government, aside from the long-existing Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency (OGEPA), established the Ogun State Waste Management Authority (OGWAMA).
But residents submit that OGWAMA has not done enough in managing wastes.
Contacted, the Chief Press Secretary to Gov Abiodun, Kunle Somorin, told our correspondent that the state government has received complaints from the masses about the state of our environment.
According to him, the state government has commenced work in getting the necessary things done, among which he said involves door-to-door refuse collection.
He said he would update our correspondent at the appropriate time.
