C’Rivers residents decry mounting refuse heaps, seek govt action

Residents and motorists in Calabar, Cross River State, are raising concerns over growing piles of refuse across major streets and roads, warning that the situation poses serious health risks and obstructs movement within the city.

During a visit on Monday, residents told journalists that waste has continued to accumulate in several parts of the metropolis, including Mbukpa Street by Ambo Lane and Ekpo Abasi by Mayne Avenue in Calabar South.

Other heavily affected locations include Access Road by Atimbo, Atekong by Marian, and Old Odukpani Road by TTC in Calabar Municipality.

A resident, Ekebasi Nduke, expressed frustration over what she called months of government inaction.

She said, “I am happy you have seen it by yourself. You have seen the huge refuse dump along the road. It is very embarrassing that the government have not done anything for some time now to evacuate these things here.”

A shop owner, Ekaette Bassey, said the refuse has made her business environment unbearable as flies from the dump constantly invade her shop.

“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,” she added.

Commercial drivers also voiced their concerns. One of them, Effiong Effiom, warned that the failure to evacuate the waste could trigger outbreaks of life-threatening and communicable diseases.

Another driver, who declined to give his name, described the situation as “sad and terrible,” noting that the problem persists despite monthly sanitation exercises.

“Even though we carry out monthly sanitation exercises here in the state, our government have refused to pack this dirty refuse across streets in the city. If you go to Mayne Avenue by Ekpo Abasi, you will see heaps of refuse loaded everywhere, not to mention Mbukpa By Ambo, it is very sad and terrible,” he lamented.

For Bassey Nyong, the situation has also created traffic challenges around Marian Market.

“It is very pathetic that the government are asking us not to throw or dump refuse during the day, that everyone should dump refuse in the evening. It is expected that when they dump this refuse, they should be truck or van to evacuate it on time, to enable motorists and market women to have space.

“If you drive along that area, you will see that vehicles cannot pass without stepping on the refuse. If the commissioner of the environment does not know his job, he should be removed because people cannot keep suffering like this,” she added.

Environmental experts warn that, beyond health hazards, blocked drainage channels caused by the refuse could worsen flooding in parts of the state.

When contacted, the Commissioner for Environment, Moses Osogi, acknowledged the situation and assured residents that steps were being taken to address the problem.

“I am aware of the areas you mentioned and more. We are working assiduously to remove the refuse. I have contacted the vendors responsible for those locations. If no action is taken within the next 48 hours, we may be forced to terminate their contracts,” he stated.

In November, the PUNCH reported that residents of Lagos State raised concerns about what they described as increasingly irregular services provided by Private Sector Participant waste operators in the state.

They warned that indiscriminate dumping of refuse is heightening environmental and public health risks.

Many households resorted to burning refuse or dumping it in gutters, particularly during rainfall.