Refuse heap upsets commercial activities, academics in Kakuri

Our reporter who visited the area observed that the refuse has become a huge heap, while the harmattan wind was blowing the dirt into nearby houses, a mini market close by and a nearby school.
The councilor representing Kakuri Hausa ward, Theophilus Madami, who spoke to Daily Trust said the refuse along Arewa Textile gutter has been abandoned for a long time as if it was not among the refuse to be cleared by the contractors.
He said: “We have contacted relevant authorities to help us evacuate the refuse but without success and with time the refuse has grown into a large heap and has been responsible for numerous diseases as the dirt littering people’s houses. The refuse has also covered the rail tracks along that road. I had to make an arrangement with someone to be clearing the dirts that usually gets blown into people’s houses at a monthly stipend of N5,000. But that isn’t quite enough. Whenever the refuse is completely evacuated we can then control the residents and stop people from dumping dirt there. But the way it is now it is difficult to stop the people.”
The councilor called on the authorities concerned to evacuate the refuse heap so that the health hazards it poses can be checked and the business activities which are already springing up along that area will not be forced to relocate.
A resident of the area, Sani Musa said those responsible for evacuating the refuse always promised to come and clear it but they never did.
“I don’t know what this particular refuse or we that are living around this area have done to them. The contractors sometimes come to evacuate other nearby refuse heaps but they abandon this one. Look at the abattoir opposite and the market beside, this refuse is threatening their activities. Likewise the refuse is threatening the school nearby and people living around the area because wind is always blowing dirt into people’s houses, the abattoir and the school. We sometimes learnt that the refuse is abandoned because the owner of the nearby secondary school, allegedly reported those incharge of evacuation to the authority and they became annoyed with him. We don’t know how true that is, however,” Musa said.
A female resident who sells food, Mrs. Maria Adejoh, said those selling food around the area are not making business as people don’t patronize them anymore because of the dirt which they fear can enter their food. She said she had to relocate her food business to a nearby bank as people were no longer patronising her along the area.
When contacted, the Commissioner, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Kaduna State, Kasimu Lawal Abubakar, promised to “evacuate a disturbing refuse heap along Arewa Textile gutter in Kakuri area of Kaduna South local government which is causing discomfort for the people along the area.”
The commissioner said the ministry has been doing all it can to evacuate refuse in the state, adding that any refuse heap that needed evacuation will receive attention within 48 hours.