When Corps Members Set The Pace

Waste disposal and management is unarguably one of the worms plaguing the Nigerian environment and Africa at large and the need to establish feasible measures to tackle it has become urgently important because it is the harbinger of countless ailments that threatens our individual and collective health.

Diseases such as cancer, dermatitis, asthma, malaria, allergies, birth defects, heart disease, respiratory disease and immune deficiency diseases can result from a polluted environment.

It is on this note that corps members who are members of the Environmental Protection and Sanitation Group in Akure, Ondo state, assembled at the popular Oja-Total junction at the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Corps members cleaning up the blocked drainage

The corps members numbering about thirty took turns to clean the environment and practically cleared up the drainage system that had been blocked with sand and every other forms of debris.

Speaking during the exercise, the president of the group, Mr. Oladapo Femi said that part of the group’s motivation stemmed from their desire to make the environment safe and germ free. He stated that: “before we decided on this exercise, I was usually embittered each time I come to this part of the road and see how dirty it is and now that I have the opportunity I felt the desired changes should be effected now.”

The Transformer house at Oja-Total junction

Also speaking, an executive member of the group, Rosemary Bassey Okon reiterated the need for all hands to be on deck to achieve a disease free environment. She said: “this should be a routine exercise that should be done by all and sundry. Grasses should be cut as at when due, stagnant waters shouldn’t be allowed anywhere around our dwelling places because they serve as breeding grounds for mosquitoes which transmits malaria.”

Corroborating her, the financial secretary of the group, Godswill Bassey sited lack of proper information dissemination and orientation of the general public as the major reasons why people dispose their refuse indiscriminately.

The cleared drainage channel

Speaking on the unwholesome attitude of some persons in the disposal of refuse, one of the Local Government Inspector (LGI) in Akure, Mr Ojo who supervised the corps members said: “Refuse disposal and management is a big problem in the sense that the general orientation of the public is poor. This drainage system that the corps members are toiling to clean up wouldn’t have been blocked if the general public are educated properly on these issues.”

 Asked if the provision of wastes bins will dissuade people from throwing debris into drainages, the LGI said: “Even if you flood the whole city with waste bins you will still see some people who would still not make use of them.”

He further admonished the people who frequently indulge in throwing wastes carelessly on the environment to desist from it. “Don’t be surprised if you come here tomorrow and see debris in the drainage which this corps members have cleared up.” He stated.

In commending the efforts of the corps members, a member of the Ondo State Waste Management Authority (OSWA), comrade Abdul Jimoh urged the people especially those using the ultra modern market close to the drainage systems to “desist from throwing trashes into the drainage and join hands in the campaign to keep our environment clean.”

“If we all follow the good examples of these corps members,” he said. “Our environment will be safe and free.”