Workers and other business owners around the Akwa Ibom State Government House in Uyo are afraid that the dump site located in the area would lead to the outbreak of an epidemic.
They said the stench that emanates from the Uyo village road dumpsite is a threat to the health of people around the area and beyond.
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The dumpsite is becoming a source of worry to road users and persons doing business at the Uyo Local Government Secretariat, Akwa Ibom State Judiciary headquarters, ‘A’ Division of the Nigerian Police Area Command, the new Traditional Rulers Complex, Health Center, Uyo Club, Governor’s Office Annex, Nigeria Corrections Service and other private buildings surrounding Wellington Bassey Way.
Daily Trust reports that the stench from the dumpsite has become worse especially during this rainy season as the dirt mixed with rain oozes out unpleasant smell that pollutes the atmosphere surrounding the area.
Speaking on the development, the Executive Director of the Foundation for Civic Education, Human Rights and Development Advancement, Mr Clifford Thomas, told our correspondent in Uyo on Wednesday that government has compromised the health of the citizens for locating the dumpsite there.
He said the ecosystem of the area has been destroyed, adding that the pollution in the environment could lead to air or water borne diseases.
He said he was planning to institute legal action against the state government and the ministries of environment and health once the courts resume in October.
“I am ready to take the government to court. It’s economic and social right.
“That ravine has a spring, which is a source of water, it has a stream, it has a lake.
“Now the natural habitat and all the ecosystem of that place have been compromised.
“The stench coming out from there affects not just government house, barracks road, judiciary but also extends to the living quarters where people live.
“There is a school on that hill and they have polluted the air around the environment.
“If it is not air borne, it is water borne or contagious.
“The Akwa Ibom state government has compromised the health of citizens and residents of that whole area, who live in Uyo, part of Ibiono Ibom, part of Itu and part of Uruan.
“I am preparing documents to take them to court.
“The court should interpret whether it is proper for them to desecrate and destroy natural habitat, which had provided clean air and oxygen to the people of that area.
At the dumpsite, one of the scavengers-in-chief, Mr Edet Ekeng said they were helping the government to turn the waste into wealth by employing several people who were hitherto unemployed.
He urged the state government to establish a proper waste management system.
The dumpsite, which was previously located at Udo street was moved by the Government of Mr Udom Emmanuel to its current location, a distance of about 200 meters from the government house.
The Commissioner for Enviromment, Mr Charles Udoh said the government was aware of the situation and was working towards putting an end to the stench.
He said the government was looking into the possibility of using the waste to generate power, adding that the COVID-19 pandemic slowed down the talk with investors.
“We are aware of the issue and are working towards getting rid of it.
“We have an investor who is coming to convert the waste to power, so the stench we have there and everything will soon disappear.
“We just talked to the guys, it is COVID-19 that slowed us down,” he said.
“It is not just moving the refuse from there because if we move it we are going to dump it somewhere else and it’s going to create another problem.
“Rather we are looking at a way of managing the waste so that it would not be injurious to human health”.
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