Mararaba’s waste problem of epic proportions

Sprawling filth, rancid stench and swam of flies are a sign informing passers-by and guests coming to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) through Keffi that they have arrived the popular City Rock Junction.
A drive through this spot could be unpleasant owing to the nauseating odour emanating from a particular refuse dump along Mararaba-KeffiExpressway.
Independent investigation revealed that the refuse dump, which has now taken over part of the Express road,was created about three years ago on the directive of the NasarawaState government to serve as a temporary refuse collection site for neighbouring communities including Nyanya, Orange Market and some other places within the neighbourhood.But three years after, the government is yet to evacuate the dump to its permanent site in spite of its health implications to the lives of the people in the area.
Furthermore, the location of the refuse heap along the main entrance to FCT does not only rob Abuja of its beauty as the pride of the nation but also tells visitors of Nigeria’s poor waste management system.
This illegal dump site along a federal road has grown into a mountain, thus causing havoc to even the drivers plying the road as it is said to be one of the main causes of accidents as well as traffic congestion on the ever busy expressway.
Daily Trust gathered that in spite of the debilitating stench oozing out of the dump, a sizeable number of scavengers glean through the refuse dump, thus corroborating the saying that one man’s poison is another man’s food.
To the residents of the area, the dump not only constitutes environmental nuisance but also poses a health concern threatening their lives and businesses.
Mrs Fatima Haruna, one of the residents, expressed concern over the cases of malaria and diarrhoea among the residents which she attributed to the poor sanitary condition of the area due to the refuse dump.
She said, “The dumpsite has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes and has added tremendously to the cases of malaria, diarrhoea, rashes and typhoid fever infections among the residents of Baba Ali Street.” She adds that her children are currently down with malaria and rashes.
Fatima, who fries akara at the area, added that the dump has affected her business as she has lost a lot of customers because of the bad odour from the site.
While calling on the government of Nasarawa State to come to their rescue by clearing the waste, she added that whenever it rains, refuse from the dump flow into their residences thereby forcing them into direct contact with germs.
The dump comprises of every imaginable waste like synthetic materials, electronic wastes and biodegradable materials.
The synthetic wastes components include plastic materials, bottles, empty metal containers and polythene bags. Others are plastic food containers, empty containers of beverages and bottled water.
Some electronic wastes commonly found in the bin include pieces of television sets, computer parts, and electric bulbs, among others, while the biodegradable wastes include consumables such as food remains and clothing materials among others.
Daily Trust also learnt that human excreta and decomposing dead animals form part of the refuse depository. This, according to some residents, dispels customers from restaurant operators within the neighbourhood.
Mrs. Favour Umar, who has been running a restaurant in the area before the ugly heap sprangup, said she has lost all of her customers to the stench, adding that her business is at the point of total collapse. She therefore called on the government of NasarawaState to help evacuate the waste.
Another restaurant operator, Michael Eze, described the dump as a problem, saying it is negatively affecting their lives and businesses. Mr Eze like other business operators in the area said he has lost customers because of the unhygienic nature of the place occasioned by the dumpsite.
Mr Chris Okpara, who expressed concern over the health implications associated with the dumpsite, blamed Karu Planning and Development Authority (KAPDA) for their ordeal, saying the authority which is saddled with the responsibility of removing the waste from the temporary site on daily basis is not living up to its expectation.
He said that whenever they (KAPDA) come, they only evacuate about 2-3 trucks of waste, leaving the rest and thus making the ever increasing monument of garbage grow, with its attendant negative effect on the neighbourhood.
However, a source from KAPDA, who spoke to our reporters in confidence, refuted the allegation saying that KAPDA has been leaving no stone unturned in ensuring that lives of residents of the area are not endangered by the dumpsite.
The source said besides the daily removal of the waste from the dump site, KAPDA fumigates the surrounding residential areas from time-to-time to safeguard the health of the residents.
The source called on the residents to be patient and calm as the government explores ways to find a lasting solution to the problem.