From Everest Ezihe, Owerri
Residents of Owerri, the capital of Imo State and its environ are worried over the dumping of refuse on the streets and deplorable nature of some roads.
This situation calls for urgent Government attention especially now that we are in raining season to avoid epidemic/pandemic and suffering by road users.
While driving in the streets of Owerri you notice refuse being dumped all over at reckless abandon. These areas where the refuse are dumped have no waste bin for people to dispose their waste .
The scenes are very offensive and don’t speak good about the present administration and a state that once prides its self as the most cleanness state capital in Nigeria.
The eye soar is so neausting that people have begun to wonder and asking what are the duties of the Commissioner for Environment, IMC Chairman of Owerri Municipal and the House Member representing these areas .
The places where you notice the refuse dumps that need urgent attention for evacuation and provision of waste bins are: Okigwe road opposite APC State Secretariat, Yaradua Drive, Mbari street by Item street close to UBA bank, Maris junction Ikenegbu, in front of Ikenegbu Girls Secondary School, MCC road by St John’s Lab opposite Nwaturuocha street Ikenegbu, Atta street by Stadium lane off Onukwo street Ikenegbu, Nkworji market by Mbieri road.
Though there are other places in Owerri where you will notice dumping of refuse on the streets and on the road dividers.
Our main concern is on Atta Street by Stadium off Onukwo Street .This very road which is very important in the city of Owerri has been taken over by refuse. The road is terrible and impassable.
The residents living in this road are appealing to the governor to come to their rescue. Mr Patrick a furniture maker near the refuse dump said it is really unfortunate that the Government has abandoned them to suffer as a result of the deplorable nature of the road and heaps of refuse dumps.
He said even people walking can’t easily access the road due to the deplorable condition and dumping of refuse.
Mr Patrick said if the refuse dumps on this road are cleared and the road well repaired and made accessible again that it will decongest the incessant traffic on Wetheral road and MCC. This is because the road leads to Relief market and you can also access it to connect Chukwuma Nwoha road/street.
A clergy man who is also living around this place Apostle Izunna Lawrence Okolie said while thanking the Governor for the development going on in the state, he should as a matter of urgency come to their rescue by clearing the massive refuse and putting the road in other.
Apostle Okolie said doing that will add to the beauty of the area especially as it is located near the popular Dan Anyiam stadium.
The clergy man said he want the evacuation to be a continuous thing to avoid epidemic. According to him, he said the refuse has been evacuated before but due to it was not sustained , it became worse now.
He described the road as a very important road that should be given immediate and urgent attention by the Government.
We are calling on those concerned to do the needful to evacuate the refuse in the streets.
The Waste Management Agency is trying by moving around with trucks to evacuate refuse dumped on the road dividers but that is not enough.
Waste bins should be provided at these places and other strategic places in Owerri for effective refuse disposal and waste management.
The idea of dumping refuse on the road dividers is not good. It litters the roads and makes them dirty.
We believe the government should act now so the residents will heave a sigh of relief and count it as dividend of democracy.
