Ebute-Metta residents raise alarm over dump site, says epidemic loom
Residents of four streets on Apapa Road, Lagos Mainland Local Government, Lagos State, have cried to the authority of Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), to save them them from looming epidemic due to the agency’s activities at refuse transit dump site, situated between Ibadan, Odaliki, Thomas and Niger Streets.
Residents of the four streets in a letter to the agency’s management, dated September 10, stated that as a direct result they are now experiencing environmental pollution and degradation, due to the terrible toxic odour emanating from the site.
The residents of the community in the letter signed by their coordinator, Mr. Williams Oluwaseun, and over 100 others, also claimed that they are experiencing insomnia, due to movement operational vehicles which operate round the clock.
They therefore pleaded with the State Government and the agency, to treat them as human beings and Nigeria citizens by relocating the site within shortest possible time.
The letter reads in part: “Our community is a residential area and the dump site is sandwiched by four streets Namely: lbadan, Thomas, Alh Hozat (formerly) Niger and Odaliki.
“As a direct result of the activities going on at the site there has been an influx of flies, mosquitoes and several unimaginable insects, it is only a matter of time before there is an outbreak of epidemics not to mention that we are now
experiencing environmental pollution and degradation due to the terrible toxic odour emanating from the site. The vehicular movement within and outside the premises is 24//7. Lots of complaints from residents concerning Insomnia”.
“The scenario is an embarrassment to residents and visitors alike, a serious menace and nuisance, obviously the project Was conceptualized without human
consideration. The C.D.A. that is supposed to be an integral part’ of the Government was never consulted.
“We begin to ponder on the rationale behind locating a dump site in our community. Is it to exterminate the residents?
“The Global best practices states that a project of this nature should be situated at the outskirts of communities. Nobody would desire a project like this in his or her place of habitation even for a second.
“We want to seriously believe that our amiable Governor Akinwunmi Ambode is not in the know about this project because we are sure of his human nature considering all his good works and we plead that his Government should continue to be viewed in that light.
“As a people oriented Government we shall be eternally grateful if you shall respectively treat us as human beings and citizens of this nation by relocating the project within the shortest possible time”.
Responding to the residents’ letter, Mr. Segun Adeniji, LAWMA’s managing Director, the letter written by the residents was politically motivated, adding that the said dump site is been fumigated once in a week.
He also accused the residents of the community of not complying with the buildings code which he said hindered smooth operation of his agency.
“The place they are complaining about was built during Alhaji Lateef Jakande, and anywhere in the world, dump site is always located within the residence, but the government must ensure that the place is fumigated once in a week, and this is what we always do. Where is the epidemic they said.
“The government must also ensure that the dump site does not have environmental and health hazard on the residents of the area”.
Adeniji while saying that the residents cannot stop government from functioning, also accused the residents of the area of not complying with the building code in the State, this he said having negative impact of his agency’s operation.
He said: “the law in Lagos State when you are building a house is that there must be where to park your cars and vehicles, but the residents of the area are parking their cars on the road, and this affect our smooth operation.
“However, I have invited them for a meeting to educate them, because they cannot stop from functioning, while the government must ensure that what it does don’t have any environmental and health hazard on the people”.
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