Improper waste management has become a pressing challenge, and beyond the basic need to manage waste, the way they are being disposed often reflects people’s attitude towards the environment.
Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, has transformed from clean, well-kept surroundings to littered streets and gutters. In recent times, its harmful effect of waste products on the environment has drawn more public attention and concern.
In what seems like an outburst, a political analyst and social crusader has taken to social media and also speaking to reporters about his concerns on improper waste management.
Oyo State social crusader, Comrade Suara Moshood Onisemeje, has called the attention of the state government to what he called “mammoth hill of dirtiness”.
Via his Facebook page, he said, “It’s not a good thing to wake up in the morning, while going to work and be welcomed with this mammoth hill of dirtiness early in the morning. Why? Simply because we don’t take the well-being of our people into cognisant.”
He called on the Oyo state Governor, Seyi Makinde, to urgently look into it.
Speaking further via his handle, Comrade Onisemeje said the current administration in Oyo State has spent so much on road infrastructure but instead of people enjoying the beautiful visuals of the roads, the reverse is the case because everywhere is littered with refuse.
He beseeched the Oyo State Government to declare a state of emergency on the environmental sector in the state.
In addition to what he called a series of trends of how waste has littered most of Ibadan, Onisemeje took a stroll to the Ministry of Health and, to his surprise, he met the unexpected.
“When we are talking about ‘Health is Wealth’ but forgetting to take care of the ‘Ministry of Health’. This is a new face of the ministry that preaches about a healthy environment, is that not an Irony?” He insisted that the Oyo State Government must declare a state of an emergency in the environmental sector.
As of the time of filing this report, a source who pleaded anonymity said nothing significant has been done.
A reporter, Hikmat Hamzat, in her report on improper waste disposal’s harmful effect on the environment said improper waste disposal, with refuse often dumped in gutters, roadsides, and open spaces, poses serious threats to human health and the environment.
The practice of open defecation, as earlier reported, is wide spread in Oyo State. This inconveniences people and threatens the environment’s sanity.
Open waste attracts mosquitoes, flies and rodents that spread malaria and other diseases like cholera, diarrhoea, and typhoid, among others.
Why does this problem persist?
Lack of waste bins. Irregular waste collection and weak law enforcement in many communities. In some cases, residents resort to burning their trash in front of their homes because waste collection services don’t reach their areas. This practice poses environmental and health risks, pointing out the need for reliable waste management solutions.
Adequate facilities, public education, and clear rules with punishment for those who dump waste carelessly are essential to creating cleaner and safer communities, according to observers, who insist that keeping our environment clean is not rocket science.
By Omowumi Abraham, Ibadan