Aba stinks again!

•Residents of commercial city risk epidemic

From Ogbonnaya Ndukwe, Aba

History is seemingly repeating itself in Aba, the commercial city of Abia State. Precisely, this time last year, Daily Sun reported of imminent epidemic in Enyimba City following the overflowing waste there.

•Heaps of refuse along Port Harcourt-Uratta Road Junction

During that period, waste dumps blocked free flow of human and vehicular traffic on the roads. This left foul odour and stench from the decaying waste in every part of the city.

A tour round the town showed overflowing refuse heaps, which people marched on to their homes and business locations on major roads like Aba/Owerri, Asa, Ngwa, Azikiwe and Ikot Ekpene. Similar situation prevailed at market locations at Ariaria, Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Eziukwu/Cemetery, among others.

***Then, the staff of the Aba office of the AbiaState Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA), refused to evacuate the decomposing waste from their primary collection points along the streets, due to non-payment of their salaries for several months.

The refuse dumps were abandoned for three months. ASEPA source revealed that the workers were also demanding the provision of refuse trucks and other equipment to aid them in the job.

Governor Alex Otti on assumption of office, immediately declared emergency on the environmental sanitation of Aba. He did not stop there. The city turned into a construction site with many roads abandoned for over 20 years being reconstructed. 

But the situation has degenerated again at the Port Harcourt Road/Uratta Road axis of the city. The filthy state of the place at the moment has become unbearable, prompting fears of imminent epidemic, if nothing is done urgently to address it.

It was gathered that ASEPA staff, especially those working along Port Harcourt and Uratta roads axis, where construction work is currently on, have not been up and doing in evacuating filled heaps, thereby creating space for refuse to be dumped indiscriminately along motor roads.

Residents, who spoke to Daily Sun, expressed dismay that the continued abandonment of refuse in the sites, may develop into health hazards that will cost them and even the government, huge money to contain, if not checked.

They called on the authorities, particularly the zonal ASEPA management in Aba, to come to their rescue, by evacuating the sore dump heaps, now that the rains are fast coming in, with heavy wastes being realized daily due to the new corn harvests.

Mrs. Caroline Uzondu, a restaurateur in the area said: “Many of my customers don’t come here again. Though my shop is clean but the neighbourhood is very dirty. Just look at what you went through before getting here. So, they complain that only pigs would be comfortable eating in a place like this.” 

A trader in Eziukwu Road market, Chief Onyeoziri Samuel, who resides along Uratta Road, said: “They have to act to urgently to forestall epidemic that will come should nothing be done and the refuse allowed to decompose in the location.

“Our little children are even more exposed because of their vulnerable young skins. Something urgent should be done in that direction.”

A community leader, Chief Chima Nwogu: “I have earlier reached out to workers in the community health centre, who promised to contact ASEPA officials.  Such effort is yet to receive positive attention. I will try to visit the ASEPA zonal office, to discuss with the officials.”

At the Ikot Ekpene Road office of ASEPA in Aba, the general manager, was said to be away to Umuahia when Daily Sun went there. A staff who pleaded anonymity said efforts were on to evacuate the refuse heaps in parts of the city.

He appealed for restraint and patience while something was being done. He also complained of lack of equipment to handle the large refuse being generated: “The present administration is doing its utmost to ensure better services to the people in Aba and Umuahia.”