Residents and traders in the Pakuro area of Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area, Ogun State, have called on the state government to relocate an illegal dump in the community, expressing fears that it could trigger a disease outbreak.
PUNCH Metro correspondents who visited the area on Sunday reported a large heap of refuse on the road, emitting a strong, putrid smell. People waiting for commercial buses were forced to endure the offensive odour.
In interviews, residents said the stench from the dumpsite had made breathing difficult. They attributed the growing heaps to inadequate waste collection and improper disposal.
Okafor Sunday, a local business owner, said, “As we sit here, we can barely breathe because of the odour coming from the refuse dump. The government has refused to do its job, and it is killing us slowly.”
Another resident, identified only as Peace, said the community had resorted to burning some of the waste due to the negligence of the waste management agency. “It has been almost three months since the waste officials came to collect the refuse. Some residents burn the waste every Thursday, but the smoke is also harmful and unbearable,” she said.
A trader, Godwin, explained that the dirt had blocked drainage channels, preventing proper water flow and worsening the smell. He appealed to the government to address the waste and pollution problem. “The way the refuse is dumped indiscriminately is really harmful to our health. We need a proper waste disposal system,” he said.
Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, confirmed that the government had begun efforts to clear the waste. “I have instructed the Managing Director of the Ogun State Waste Management Authority, Abayomi Hunye, to close the dump immediately. I am confident that the necessary action will be taken promptly,” he said.
Illegal dumps have been a longstanding concern in Ogun State. In February, Oresanya noted the proliferation of such sites and stated that the ministry was working to close them pending the full functionality of the state waste management system.
