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From Sola Ojo, Abuja
Residents of major districts in Abuja have made a strong appeal to the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) authorities over growing illegal refuse sites in the city.
According to these residents, many of who spoke in confidence, the sites, like the one in Utako which is a stone’s throw from the Labour Party National Secretariat and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Secretariat, now sits menacingly close to business centres, walkways, residential area and a major road lane, thereby posing threats of disease outbreak, environmental degradation, and civic disorder in no distant time. They stated that, the problem began shortly after erosion control works were completed in Jabi last year. What was meant to safeguard the environment has ironically become a gateway for environmental abuse.
“This thing here in Jabi started this year because they erected erosion control there last year”, one resident said.
Another said: “People come from Jabi park and market, Utako village, Zaki Biyu and other villages along Idu just to dump solid waste here without anyone stopping them.
“There are children who use wheelbarrows, others use mini trucks to bring these things here. The truth is, this is not safe at all. They started this nonsense this year and look at how big it has become while the environmentalists and health workers look the other way. It is very unfortunate,” she said.
Residents say the site has quickly turned into a dumping ground for all manner of refuse, from household waste to construction debris.
Scavengers now frequent the area, especially in the early hours of the day, rummaging through the garbage for recyclable materials like aluminum, disused plastic bottles, cartons, and scrap metals.
In the process, they scatter waste across the road, worsening the already chaotic and unsanitary conditions.
“You can see that this has already taken over the walkway. Once the wheelbarrow pushers and mini trucks dump the refuse, the scavengers come to scatter everything in search of valuables. If urgent action is not taken, this will one day cover the entire lane of the road,” another resident lamented. The site lies within the jurisdiction of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), yet residents say there has been no visible intervention from local authorities.
As the stench from decomposing waste thickens the air and flies hover menacingly, many fear that a health crisis is looming.
“This is an eyesore, especially considering the strategic location. The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, should direct the concerned agencies to act fast. We know the authorities are doing a lot with road and bridge construction, but they should also be concerned about this situation also.”
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When this reporter visited the site, the nauseating smell wafting through the air was overwhelming. Passersby could be seen covering their noses, while taxis and drivers swerved dangerously to avoid the spread of garbage onto the road.
The growing frustration among Jabi/Utako residents is palpable, and it is not different from those in Karmo Sabo and Nyanya by Mopol Junction.
While the refuse mountain in Karmo has built up over the years, the one at Nyanya by Mopol Junction is already festering just like the one at Utako.
The traditional leader of Karmo-Sabo, Chief Umar Gani Sarki Karmo (Gomo III), also made an urgent appeal to the government for the immediate evacuation of the ancient dumpsite.
“Most importantly and urgently, we need the government to come and help us to evacuate the ancient dumpsite, which now poses serious health challenges to our people”, Chief Sarki pleaded.
According to him, what was once a distant refuse site has been overtaken by urban development, placing it dangerously close to homes and communal spaces.
“Before, the dumpsite used to be far away from us. But now, development has caught up with it, and it is now in the centre of Karmo. We have made efforts, but it is beyond us due to its huge size,” he said.
Echoing his concerns, Ladi Danladi, a resident living near the site, described the worsening impact of the growing refuse mountain.
“I live here in Karmo Sabo, very close to the dumpsite. Over the years, the dumpsite has expanded and pushed further down into the community. The community has tried to push it back without results.”
She added that several attempts to stop indiscriminate dumping have also failed.
“We have even tried to stop people from this indiscriminate dumping of refuse here, but that too has not yielded any positive results.
“As you can see, the dumpsite has created an avenue for gully erosion. What this means is that if concrete decisions are not taken by the government, many residents here will be rendered homeless”, she said.
Environmental experts warn that if the situation is not urgently addressed, it could lead to an outbreak of communicable diseases such as cholera, dysentery, and typhoid, especially during the current rainy season when contaminants can easily enter water sources.
Their message to the authorities is clear: clean up the dump, enforce the law, and restore sanity before the situation spirals into a full-blown public health disaster.
