Motorists, passers-by decry refuse dump in Ikoyi LCDA
By Francis Famoroti
Published: Tuesday, 2 Dec 2008
The Ikoyi-Obalende Local Council Development Area in Lagos was on Monday urged to deploy task force officials to apprehend unscrupulous persons who dump refuse indiscriminately near the ascending point of the Third Mainland Bridge in Obalende.
Motorists, commuters and passers-by who made the call in Lagos said such step would halt environmental nuisance in the area and check unidentified persons who have turned the spot to their refuse dump.
A health educationist, Mr. Bode Gbadega, expressed concern over the nauseating odour that oozes from the spot due to the refuse being dumped in the area.
He said sometimes, the refuse would spill to the entry point of the bridge, thereby inhibiting traffic flow and posing serious health hazards to motorists and passers-by.
Gbadega implored task force officials to ensure that anyone caught dumping refuse indiscriminately near the Obalende Bridge is charged before the Mobile Court and sanctioned accordingly.
A marketing agent with an insurance firm, Mr. Billy Junaid, urged the state government and the LCDA to erect barrier on the bridge’s sidewalk to prevent people from dumping refuse on the spot.
According to him, “the state government should erect a barbed wire barrier to prevent people from emptying their wastes at the spot. Once this is done, residents of Kontagora Housing Estate will then be responsible for clearing of refuse in the area, since their houses overlook the area.”
A retiree, Mr. Ezekiel Oyewale, also criticised the dumping of refuse on the spot, urging officials of the council to mount surveillance in the area.
He said, “any time they are held in traffic while ascending the bridge, passengers can contact airborne diseases. That is why the state government should look into this complaint and stop people, especially market women, from dumping refuse on this spot.”
A resident of Obalende, Mr. Victor Iwegbu, shared the views of other respondents and called on the state government and the LCDA to salvage the area from being turned into a permanent refuse dump.
