Dump Site is Exposing Us to Health, Environmental Hazards – Residents Cries Out
…..calls for prompt intervention
By Alex Uangbaoje, Kaduna
As part of effort to proffer solution to the devastating effects and impact of refuse dump sites to the health and environmental safety of residents of Kaduna State, members of CSOs and Media working around environment and climate change recently made an assessment visit to some dump sites in the State.
The visit which covered two LGAs of Igabi and Kaduna North gave them the opportunity to hear first hand what from the residents who they are been affected by the dump sites in communities.
The tour which was initiated by Network of Civil Society Organisations, was supported by ‘Bridge That Gap’, a Kaduna based NGO.
In their separate reactions, some of the residents who spoke with journalists laments how the poor state of the refuse dump sites in their communities had exposed them to different of health and environmental challenges.
Aisha (not her real name) a resident of Tudun Illu in Tudun Nupwa ward of Kaduna North LGA, described the dump sites as a ‘nightmare and horrific.’
She alleged that the smoke from the burning refuse was the cause of respiratory illnesses especially Asthma.
She lamented that whenever they take action towards stopping people from dumping refuse on the site, they sometimes threatened their lives.
“Sometimes ago, a young man brought out a knife and threatened to stab me because I stopped him from dumping refuse on the site because the site does not belong to my father.“
Another resident, Mustapha Almustapha, decried that the refuse dump has become a breeding ground for rodents, snakes, and other dangerous animals that have invaded homes in the community.
He said that the situation could lead to an outbreak of diseases in the area, as all the pleas with the relevant authorities to ensure its evacuation fell on deaf ears.
Almustapha urged the government to take immediate action to address the environmental hazard.
Similarly, Usaini Ahmad, a trader in the community, appealed to the government to provide alternative dumping sites and improve waste management in the community.
He said the community has suffered for too long due to the neglect of the refuse dump.sites, seeking their prompt evacuation to prevent further environmental degradation and health hazards.
“The situation in Tudun Ilu community highlights the need for effective waste management and environmental protection in urban areas,“he said.
Bala Ilu, Head of Tudun Ilu community, said the refuse dump site was a disturbing environmental problem to their community, hence an urgent attention was needed to avoid the recurring environmental hazards.
Ilu added that some weeks ago, some blocks of classrooms were burnt down by fire that was linked to the burning of the refuse close to the school.
He added that the Kaduna central market, which has some of its parts like the 69 drugs market and businesses along the railway track, also contributed heavily to the problem.
He said the community sometimes hired workers who would stop the people from dumping refuse in the site.
He urged the media to amplify the environmental challenge for the government to take decisive action to salvage the situation.
Earlier, the Team Lead, Gloria Bulus, Executive Director of the NGO, said the visits to the dump sites were to look at the burning issues affecting the area and how to address them by getting first hand information.
Bulus expressed optimism that the visits would help the NGO to make good suggestions on the required interventions to the government and the communities.
“We have interacted with some members of the communities and they told us their gory experiences, especially as regards to their health.
“We are all aware of the harmful impact of burning refuse in terms of contributing to the green house gas emissions which impacts climate change.
“This is happening right in the community and it is very sad. Reflecting on it makes me feel what can be done immediately on the spot for the them,”she added.
