The unlawful dumping of refuse in undesignated spaces such as open or vacant land, water sources, outlets and drainages is known as indiscriminate waste disposal.
It is wrong for any right thinking person to dump refuse indiscriminately as every cause has an effect and every action has a consequence.
Indiscriminate waste disposal has resulted in clogged drainages which have in turn caused damage to roads and other public infrastructure, in addition to the health hazards associated with such unwholesome practice.
To mitigate this, the State Government under the leadership of Governor Godwin Obaseki, has continuously intensified effective waste management in the State with the removal of debris from drains and reactivation of re-injection ponds around the city centre.
Currently, there are seven re-injection ponds within the city centre which are emptied of debris once every two years to ensure their water holding capacity.
The State Government has therefore commenced the desilting of drainages across the State while also warning residents against indiscriminate disposal of refuse to prevent the blocking of drainages and also avert flooding.
Recently, the Commissioner for Environment and Sustainability, Engr. Jonathan Lawani, during the desilting exercise carried out by the Ministry, said the exercise will be sustained but also called on the residents and corporate bodies in the State to play their part in ensuring a clean and healthy environment for everyone through proper waste disposal.
The Commissioner also called on residents in the State to engage in prompt desilting of the drains in front of their houses and within their premises.
According to him, “Residents, traders, and shop owners must ensure prompt and proper desilting of drains in front of their houses and business premises. They should notify the ministry so that the silts can be evacuated on time.”
This is in furtherance of Government’s efforts to ensure that the issue of flooding is reduced to the barest minimum as the State fully enters the wet season.
The flood and erosion challenges experienced in some parts of the city are due to the culture of disposing wastes in unauthorized places by some residents of the State.
This is why the Government is reaching out to all residents to join hands with the relevant agencies in combating flooding by going through appropriate and Government approved channels in disposing of their wastes.
By Nekpen Maureen Nwine
