The Epidemic Risk at Agbado Oke-Odo Community
Ayodeji Ake who went on an on-the-spot assessment of the controversial dumpsite along Old Otta Road in Ile Epo, Agbado Oke-Odo, Local Government Council Development Area in Lagos, reports that over five thousand pupils and the residents are at the risk of
Agbado Oke Odo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) along Lagos Abeokuta Expressway, AbuleEgba, Alimosho area of Lagos, is one of the 37 local council development areas created in Lagos State in 2003, and it is the largest community in the whole of Alimosho territory. But that is not the point. The burning issue at the community is the huge dumpsite that has literally sacked the residents and at the same time put over five thousand pupils at the risk of an epidemic.
As expected, the residents, especially market women recently raised an alarm over the dumpsite on Gideon Adeniran Street, Oke Odo community, which has caused heavy traffic, suspended market activities and exposed the children in the community to health hazards.
The Genesis When THISDAY visited the area, it was gathered that the genesis of the incident began in the former administration and when they cried out, the then governor had done the needful by directing waste trucks to be deployed to cart away the wastes. So, for some days during the week, the trucks would come and take away the generated wastes. That was the norm until earlier this year when the trucks started parking on Adeniran Street indefinitely instead of carting away the wastes.
Complaints When the non-removal of the waste trucks became consistent, the residents started to complain. According to them,
the waste trucks not only destroyed their roads and blocked the market, but also exposed them to health hazards caused by the air pollution.
One of the food sellers in the community who claimed anonymity told THISDAY that since the commencement of operation on the dumpsite, she has been unable to sell her food because the waste trucks blocked the entrance , as well as made the environment unconducive for her customers to eat. She said: “What is happening here is in two ways- the bad roads and the blockade on the said road have made life unbearable for us. If the government can help us build this road, there won’t be much cause for alarm.
"Before, these people do not waste time when depositing their refuse at times, but because of the bad road, they take time and you won’t be able to withstand the odour in this area. We sell food but it has drastically reduced the number of customers that patronise me."
Another food seller in the community popularly called Iya Ogunfe who also spoke to THISDAY lamented that the odour from the dumpsite is unbearable and has since chased their customers. She said they have endeavoured to speak to the authority to reorganise the trucks to stop blocking the street. She said: “We hardly sell our market. No one will want to come in and eat because this place stinks. We step on dirty water and expose ourselves to germs and diseases.
"We have tried countless times to explain things to these people to also consider us but they turn deaf ear to us. Truly the drivers of the trucks patronise us but, what about our other customers. The most annoying thing is that they will be here from morning till night and without our customers patronising us, we end up eating our food ourselves. Let the government come to our aid because we don’t want them here anymore. The smell is unbearable."
Another resident, one Mr. Abdul Akande, also noted that the activities of the waste trucks have become unbearable. Appealing to the government to come to their aid he said: “I am not saying that the way they come here is bad but they keep damaging our road. We hardly see space to park our cars and trekking to our homes is another big problem. If they want to continue using this dumpsite, the government should repair this road so that here will be convenient not only for us, but for the truck drivers too."
Threat to Pupils Mr. Pelumi Lawal, an environmentalist and a resident of the community explained to THISDAY that the operations of the dumpsite resumed without the knowledge of the local government chairman and has resulted to heavy traffic and unbearable odour, which has exposed residents and pupils in the community to health hazards.
Lawal who pointed that there are about three schools close to the dumpsite and other schools in the same environment, added that market women were also affected by the indiscriminate parking.
He said: “The issue on ground was sorted out 10 years ago when the former governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola, stopped them from using this dumpsite because it’s a residential area. Surprisingly, they resumed recently without the notice of our local government chairman. Recently the chairman himself was here and was shocked.
"What we are clamouring for is that we want our environment to be safe because right now, the environmental integrity has been altered. The air is polluted and it’s hazardous to resident's health. The waste trucks are often parked on the road causing traffic because the road is already bad and the logistic generally to convey them has been a challenge. The refuse keeps piling up and I think they need more machines so that they can work better. If they can’t meet up, for the sake of those living in this environment, it will be advisable for them to relocate.
"We have complained to them but they won’t hear us out. We have protested but we don’t want to limit it to the protest alone. We want the government to come to aid in this area. This is not good enough.
“In this environment alone, we have over three private schools, two public schools (primary and secondary), and we also have some crèches around. Pupils around here with the number of schools in the area are over five thousand and this is the largest community in Alimosho Local Government Area."
Oke-Odo Chairman Reacts The Executive Chairman of Agbado OkeOdoLCDA, Dr. Augustine Arogundade, who expressed concern for the people, however explained that the operation on the dumpsite was an order from the state government.
He said: “When I heard the announcement on radio and I read article published indicating that there were waste trucks in this environment, I quickly rushed to the site to see things for myself. On getting there I made enquiries and I found out that the decision was from the state government as part of an emergency situation to open up the dumpsite. The site according to them has been there for the past 10 years.
"This administration raised it up but when the issue of refuse was becoming a serious one in Lagos. That was why the place was opened for use. And as for us here in the local government we need to ensure that the health of the people there will not be jeopardised."
To ease the complaint of the people however, Arogundade said he has set up a committee involving the legislators, excutive and department of environment to look at the environmental impact before they can swing into action to see that the health of the people is protected.
He added, "this government is a responsive one, and once we conclude on our investigations concerning the likely effects, we will forward it to the state government for swift action. Ours is to take the report to the state government and ensure things are done."
The Councilor's Affirmation Also speaking, the Councilor Ward B, Agbado Oke-Odo LCDA, Hon. Tayo Akinsuyi, confirmed to THISDAY that the council has designed measures to investigate the activities of the dumpsite to ensure the complaints of the people are quickly attended to.
He said: "The chairman has taken a bold step to ensure actions are taken. We were not aware of the operation and now that we are aware, we will work together as a team to see that people of Oke-Odo are relieved of the traffic and other complaints laid. We have been there and we have seen things for ourselves too and I am assuring you that we are working on it."