Residents of Jos and Bukuru metropolises in Jos North and Jos South LGAs respectively of Plateau State have expressed worry over the growing heaps of refuse in the cities, especially on streets and in markets.
In Jos North, City & Crime reports that refuse heaps are conspicuous around Old Bukuru Park, Murtala Muhammed Way, Terminus Market and Langtang Street. In Jos South, the heaps are found along Kufang Road, Dadin Kowa Pedestrian Bridge, Angwan Doki-Du Road, Bukuru Market and Kugiya Market.
A commercial bus driver, Usman Balarabe, said the failure of the state government to evacuate the refuse would cause an outbreak of cholera and other communicable diseases.
Our correspondent observed that the dual carriage way between two markets in Bukuru has been overrun by heaps of refuse.
Rifkatu Daho, who hawks plantain in Bukuru Market, said the refuse was gathered in the last few months, adding that those in charge of evacuating it had failed to turn up.
Saleh Hamza, who sells second hand clothes along the street, said, “Apart from refuse from the markets, people bring refuse from their homes and dump them on the street. We used to sell our clothes at the roundabout but fled because of the stench coming from the dump site.”
Ebuka Odoh, who owns a provision shop on the the street, said flies coming from the refuse had made staying in his shop unbearable. He said, “Everywhere in the markets people are battling with flies. We are appealing to the local and state governments to help us clear the garbage before it results in an epidemic.”
Experts warned that apart from the health implications, such refuse dumps can contribute to flooding being experienced in some parts of the state.
The state’s Commissioner for Environment, Abdullahi Garba Abbas, was not available for comment at the time of filing this report as his phone lines were switched off.
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