By Uche Bibilari/Jacinta Nwachukwu
Gwagwalada (FCT) – Some residents of Hajj Camp Quarters in the Gwagwalada Area Council expressed worry over the indiscriminate dumping of waste on streets.
The residents, in a separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday, called for immediate evacuation of the waste, to avoid the outbreak of epidemic in the council.
They noted that the refuse heaps had blocked part of the road, hindering vehicular movement.
NAN reports that refuse heaps have virtually taken over the road behind Kontangora Estate, a development that has compelled some motorists to drive on the heaps or take alternative road to exit.
Mrs Ebere Iheanacho, a civil servant, has therefore, urged appropriate authorities to take urgent action, to avoid the outbreak of epidemic in the area.
She advised the area council to designate official dumpsites and ensure daily evacuation.
“For a permanent solution to this indiscriminate dumping of refuse in the area, the area council should make available places where residents could dump waste materials.
“They should also apply sanctions, including fines, to curb this menace; I believe with these measures, people will learn to do the right thing,’’ she said.
Another resident, Malam Shehu Isah, said that the situation needed the attention of both the government and people living in and around the area.
According to him, the residents need proper orientation on the havoc a dirty environment could cause.
“It might look like it is nobody’s business now; whether it is being evacuated or not or that it is not inside our various houses.
“ I believe a time will come when people will wake up and find a dump site in front of their homes.
“Efforts should be made to campaign against indiscriminate waste disposal and promote proper hygiene management among members of the community.
“We should be civil in our daily living,’’ he said.
Responding, Mr Abdulmumin Umar, the Gwagwalada Area Council spokesperson, said that the council was making serious efforts to curb the menace.
Umar, however, said that funding was the major challenge at the moment, adding that members of the public were compounding the problem by dumping waste indiscriminately.
“We have designated dumpsites but the challenge is that people don’t use them.
“They prefer to throw them everywhere. As of Kontagora area, it has been a thing of concern to us.
“You know waste evacuation is capital intensive and money is not forthcoming; so, it is a major challenge going over there for the evacuation.
“However, we will not relent in our efforts,’’ Umar said. (NAN)