BY OLUWAFEMI OLUWATOBI M
One cold morning, in May when the rainfall was more frequent than ever. I had mounted an Okada along with another man. He was well dressed and his cologne was impressively applied not too much to ignite an allergy.
He sat in the middle carrying a fairly heavy black polythene bag. The cold wind gently whipped at my face as we progressed along the Ilogbo Road (located in the belly of Ado odo Local government, Ogun state).
As we crossed the bridge that highlighted the beginning of our journey, the man suddenly asked the Okada rider to stop.
The odious smell of decomposing refuse assaulted my nostrils, and while I wondered why we had to stop at that place, the man in the middle tossed his black polythene into the waiting refuse dump while apologising profusely.
This act isn’t strange; in fact it is a norm.
The sudden and shocking transformation of this certain part of Ilogbo road into a refuse dump is a cause for concern.
Daily, especially in the early hours of the day a handful of people can be seen disposing their wastes at the side of the road without thoughts of how their actions pollute the environment and endanger the health of other people.
Prior to this time, when areas along the Ilogbo road were considered uncivilized, and sparsely populated, waste disposal was a non-issue.
As a matter of fact, the refuse dump that flanked the road never existed. But with the population surge between 2012 and 2018, the community has been confronted with the challenge of sanitation.
This explains the relationship between populated areas and waste generation. The higher the population the more solid waste is generated.
It is of utmost necessity that the disposal of solid waste materials in the area are properly managed in order to mitigate problems associated with poor waste management, which includes: water contamination, air pollution, spread of diseases and infections etc.
With the knowledge of the potential health and environmental hazards posed by poor waste management, it is advisable that the government particularly the local government authority help get rid of the roadside dump.
Cami Ezenwa is a Writer, Editor, Publicist, Biographer and Journalism Trainer
He has worked with the Daily Times, Daily Independent, Financial Standard and Business Television to mention some.
His ongoing Corporate Communications Master Class training series equips learners with credible hands-on skills for effective Media Relations, Public Communications & Corporate Affairs amongst others.
He can be contacted via 09165809519 or 08180335778.