) Residents of Dutse Baupma in Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have expressed fears of a possible disease outbreak over persistent roadside waste dumping.
The residents voiced their concerns in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) during a visit to the community.
Located along the busy Dutse–Bwari highway, Dutse Baupma is dotted with heaps of refuse, with residents blaming the situation on absence of a functional waste management system.
Mr Ibrahim Haruna, a vulcaniser, said the community had struggled with indiscriminate roadside dumping for years because residents had no designated waste disposal site.
“Every day, people come here in their vehicles to dump refuse from their homes.
“It should not be so because this is a major road in the heart of the town. People only dump waste here because they have no alternative,” he said.
Haruna acknowledged that officials of the area council periodically evacuated the refuse but argued that the measure was inadequate.
According to him, government should establish a properly designated dumpsite away from residential and commercial areas, in line with standard environmental practices.
“Officials come occasionally to evacuate the waste, but this location is too close to where people live and work.
“Proper dumpsites should be located far from residential and commercial areas, as obtainable elsewhere,” he said.
Another resident, Mr Abraham Shekwolo, described the situation as a serious public health risk, warning that continued indiscriminate dumping could trigger disease outbreaks.
He called on the government to provide adequate waste disposal infrastructure to safeguard the health of residents.
Other residents also urged the authorities to intervene urgently to prevent the situation from worsening.
The community leader, Mr John Kuyambana, recalled that government previously distributed plastic waste bags to households and collected them when full but discontinued the programme a long time ago.
He appealed for the reintroduction of the initiative, saying it would significantly reduce indiscriminate refuse disposal in the community.
Kuyambana also appealed to the government to construct access roads and a pedestrian bridge at Tiber Junction, citing the frequent accidents recorded at the location.
“We appeal to the government to construct a pedestrian bridge at Tiber Junction.
“On average, we record no fewer than three accidents there every week because vehicles often lose their brakes and run into pedestrians trying to cross the road.
“A pedestrian bridge will greatly reduce these accidents and save lives.
“We also appeal for access roads in the community to ease movement and support residents’ economic activities,” he said (NAN)
