Driving into Abuja from Koroduma — popularly referred to as One-Man Village — located along the Abuja/Keffi expressway in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, we were heading for a scheduled appointment at the Federal Secretariat complex on a very busy Monday morning. However, upon reaching Mararaba Junction, still within Karu LGA and just before Nyanya — the boundary town between the FCT and Nasarawa State — we ran into a terrible traffic gridlock that stretched over a kilometer. Initially, we assumed it might have been caused by an accident, which is a common occurrence on that stretch of road.
But after spending nearly an hour in the hold-up, it became clear that the real cause of the traffic was the evacuation of a refuse dump, sited dangerously close to the expressway and approved by the Nasarawa State Government. The trucks involved in the evacuation were parked partially or entirely on the highway, obstructing the free flow of traffic. Some were parked right on the road, worsening the already dire situation and bringing movement to a complete halt.
As we got closer to the dump site, a strong, offensive stench filled the air. The odour was so overpowering that many of us were gasping for fresh air. In a bid to block out the smell, we had to wind up the windows of our vehicle — even though the air conditioning wasn’t functioning properly. Those who didn’t wind up their windows had different stories to tell. Some lost their mobile phones, money, and other valuables to hoodlums who took advantage of the stalled traffic.
Sadly, this experience is all too familiar to regular commuters on that route.
Indiscriminate refuse dumps exist in almost every city in Nigeria today. This issue of poor refuse management in our cities has brought with it different kinds of communicable diseases with some leading to loss of life. It is almost the same story in several cities in Nigeria.
Our Waste management culture is very poor. The government agencies at both federal, state and local government levels saddled with the job of proper waste management are not living up to expectation. In most of our cities today, there is hardly any one that you cannot find hips of refuse in one street corner or the other.
Indiscriminate dumping of refuse on the road side has become a menace to the extent that our health is being threatened. This culture of indiscriminate dumping of refuse has significantly contributed to the pollution of our environment.
Though there are other sources of pollution such as air pollution which is exacerbated by the fumes emanating from our vehicles that are poorly maintained due to the biting economic hardship bedeviling our people. There is also water pollution which is also caused by Industries channeling their liquid waste into our streams, rivers and other water bodies.
Indiscriminate dumping of refuse most especially by the local refuse collectors known in the North as “Baban-Bola” has reached a point that if nothing is done and done urgently, there will be a catastrophic epidemic all over the nation. Aside from the effects of pollution, most of these local refuse collectors engage in stealing and sometimes robbing people of their valuables using dangerous weapons, whereas some serve as agents to armed robbers.
Aside from engagement in nefarious activities by these refuse collectors aka “Baban-bola”, almost all of them are unkempt, that their presence alone causes pollution to the environment.
It should also be of note that during the event of traffic gridlock on our roads, some vehicles emit serious smoke that choke both passersby and in some cases occupants of the vehicles plying our roads. These emissions from these vehicles contain different poisonous substances such as Carbon dioxide, Sulphur and other deadly gases that in most cases lead to impairment and in some cases death.
This indiscriminate refuse dumps that litters the nooks and crannies of our communities and cities does not just cause pollution alone but also lead to loss of man hours which is not just the time spent on the hold-up but also the negative effect it has on our health that most time we get to the offices exhausted and barely put in our maximum effort into our jobs, thereby leading to massive loss of revenue to the nation.
Poor management of waste could lead to contamination of the environment by various harmful substances, and this could be a fertile ground for the outbreak of cholera and other infectious diseases. It poses significant risks to human health, the environment, and economic development. It could also lead to Urban pollution with severe consequences such as respiratory and cardiovascular problems, allergies, and even long-term health issues like cancer. It also negatively impacts the environment, causing damage to ecosystems and reducing air and water quality. Poor waste management practices can lead to open dumps and contribute to soil and water pollution thereby impacting negatively on the environment and health of the people.
Proper waste management goes beyond the practices and actions necessary to manage waste from the point of generation to the point of disposal or recovery. It involves collecting, transporting, processing and disposing of waste materials with the primary aim of minimizing environmental and health impacts.
At the point of collection and transportation of waste from different sources such as homes. business and industries, proper precaution need to be taken. The waste must be sorted and well packed. Organic waste must be separated from non-organic waste. For non-organic waste such as plastics materials, nylon bags, it must be sorted differently from metals. Those involved here must dress appropriately, not wearing very dirty apparels that on its own is a nuisance to the eye and health of the worker.
In transporting, the waste must not be transported in an open truck, van or rickety vehicles as it is currently done. The vehicles must be covered if it is an open truck to avoid spilling the waste on the road. In fact, the most appropriate vehicles that should be used for transporting waste should be compactors.
For the aspect of processing the waste materials, it involves the treatment of the waste and its subsequent transformation to reduce its volume and improve its manageability, as well as recover valuable materials from it where necessary.
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As for final disposal, it involves incineration, landfilling, or other methods—not forgetting recycling and recovery, which transform waste materials into new products or energy sources. Since the point of processing is handled by experts appointed by the government and institutions, we assume they know their jobs well. The same goes for disposal and recycling. It should be well noted that proper waste management starts with the enlightenment of everyone involved in the chain.
The household must be well informed about the benefits of proper waste management at home, and the hazards of not managing waste properly. This could be done through media campaigns directed at different segments of the household, like mothers and children.
As for the mothers, workshops and seminars could be organized for them in their different communities. Hospital management could also come up with strategies to encourage pregnant women and educate them on the benefits of proper waste management and hygiene when they come in for either antenatal or postnatal consultations.
As for the children, the government should consider bringing back the teaching of hygiene in our primary and secondary schools. Debates on the dangers of poor waste management and hygiene could be organized, with incentives to encourage participation. Quiz contests could also come in handy. Seminars could also be necessary in higher institutions of learning.
Banners, posters and leaflets could be designed with short and specific messages with attractive visuals and pictures that speak volumes, in agreement with the saying “ a picture is more than one thousand words”.
As for markets, other small businesses and corporate organisations, the government authorities and other critical stakeholders within the markets and industries should organise sensitization programmes aimed at influencing their behavior positively towards enthronement of a clean and green and healthy environment. All these could be achieved via the instrumentality of environmental public relations strategies such as green marketing communications, stakeholders’ engagement, behavioral change campaigns, and environmental crises communication etc.
As for the government, it should implement strategies such as:
Improving waste management – Implementing efficient waste collection and recycling programs can minimize waste disposal and its impact on the environment.
Investing in green infrastructure – Creating parks, green spaces, and urban forests can help improve air quality and mitigate the heat island effect.
Enforcing environmental regulations – Strict enforcement of environmental laws and penalties for polluting activities can deter harmful practices.
There should also be consequences for bad behavior — the law should be allowed to take its just course on those who contravene it, no matter whose ox is gored.
By taking proactive measures to address urban pollution, cities can create a healthier and more sustainable environment for both current and future residents.