By Adikwu Samuel Ebo
The ugly trend of waste disposal on the roads causing terrible traffic to motorists is alarming in the Federal capital Territory, Abuja.
It is an eye sore, offensive, and a misnomer to describe the Federal capital Territory (FCT) that accommodates the seat of government as one of the dirtiest cities based on how waste is being carelessly disposed and the act of open defecation carried out seamlessly within the city.
Based on, “on the spot assessment” of Nyanya – Kurudu- Karshi axis, where the minister recently did a thorough reconstruction work on the road, it has become such a pollutted environment with choking and offensive smell which poses a huge menace to motorists and residents due to the random disposal of wastes that has almost covered the entire tarred road.
If the assertion that “cleanliness is next to godliness” is to hold weight, then this axis especially and other places that waste is being randomly disposed is far from godliness due to the environmental and water pollution of waste disposal.
As a result of this menace, there is high records of recurrent, recalcitrant typhoid, malaria, fever, diarrhea, dysentery, Respiratory tract infection, dermatological cases, and other air/ water borne diseases.
Waste Disposal, ordinarily in a workable society should be recycled as a huge source of organic manure for crop production and to generate electricity. Unfortunately, this is being mismanaged and turned to nuisance in FCT. More worrisome is the fact that, the place of refuse disposal has turned out to a center of open defecation which makes the public prone to diseases such as cholera and diarrhea because the running water that is a source of drinking and cooking water for the residents are polluted.
The scavengers that patronize these waste centers scattered the waste indiscriminately making the dump site more difficult to manage. Not only do the scavenger make a mess of the dump site but also uses their contaminated trucks to carry water, food and household items to the markets and restaurants causing more health hazards leading to infection recycling.
I advocate that the policy of War Against Indiscipline (WAI) be reintroduced where random waste disposal will be highly prohibited and attracts heavy penalties. Over the years, when environmental hygiene was a priority, there were specific dates set aside to carry out general sanitation and cleaning of gutters and sewages. Those who disobeyed this directive paid heavy penalties. There was stringent supervision from public health and Task Force Officers that monitored the exercise.
The unpleasant scenario is that the youths who are supposed to be future leaders are mismanaging themselves by inhaling this waste as a means of intoxicating themselves. The long-term health implications of this lifestyle is unimaginably colossal.
Painfully, this oddities of waste disposal and management is being carried out at the domain of the Ministers of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Health, Environment and some notable public Health professionals and non of them seems to be concerned about the intended and unintended consequences.
It is high time we accepted responsibilities as Public Servants, Health Officers, Innovators, Captains of Industries, Politicians and the clergies to redeem this country’s dented image.
We are in the country with burgeoning population and growing burden of insecurity, substance abuse, moral decay, heinous crimes and devastating diseases, therefore, our leaders should embrace and accept responsibility and put on their strategic thinking cap on how to halt the root causes of this carnage.
The future of quality health care in Nigeria depends to a large extent on our collective commitment to morals, discipline and selfless services to humanity.
This is a clarion call for advocacy and public sensitization against random disposal of waste, especially at public domain.
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) should rise up to this noble task of promoting a healthy society.
There is an urgent need to draw the attention of Mr. Project, Hon. Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, His Excellency, Nyesom Wike to pick up the gauntlet and boldly tackle this menace of waste Disposal and management in the Federal capital Territory. The FCT should and must be the pride of the Nation.
There are lots to be done for the masses as quality dividends of democracy.
Adikwu Samuel Ebo
Public Affairs Analyst
Abuja.
