Residents across Lagos have expressed fears of a possible disease outbreak as heaps of refuse now litter major roads in several parts of the state.
From Iyana-Ipaja to Abule Egba, Oshodi, and Iyana-Iba, it was observed that piles of waste have become a common sight.
It was a similar sight along the Isheri-Jakande road, in Agege, and in some parts of Lagos Island in the state.
The development, however, left residents worried about its health implications.
The residents who spoke to our correspondents during separate interviews on Saturday also cited government neglect.
A resident in the Igando area, Kunle Ayeni, said the situation had persisted for over three months with no visible intervention from waste management authorities.
According to him, the heaps of refuse have not only taken over parts of the road but have also become a major source of discomfort for residents and commuters.
“The smell is terrible, especially when it rains. The stench from the refuse spreads across the street and into our houses. Sometimes, we can’t even open our windows. Flies have taken over everywhere. We’ve reported to the PSP office in the area, but nothing has been done.”
Speaking in a similar tone, a resident along the Isheri-Jakande Road, Deola Davies, expressed concern about the lack of attention the situation was receiving from the government.
She said, “This issue of refuse littering the roads is no longer new to us here. It has now become a serious issue, and it looks like we don’t have a government in the state anymore. People dump refuse on the median, and the PSP operators leave it there. And what is left for us is to start inhaling the odour. Those parts of the roads now stink.”
Another resident, Funmi Adagba, said the refuse spends close to two weeks on the road without being cleared.
She said, “The refuse is being left on the road for close to two weeks, and sometimes, it becomes excessive and starts to spill on the road. Please, we need the government’s attention on this.”
Some residents also blamed the situation on the alleged inefficiency of waste management operators.
Speaking to our correspondents, the residents said that despite regular payments to Private Sector Participants operators, refuse collection has become irregular and poorly supervised.
At Shibiri, in the Ojo area, a resident, Esther Owobayi, said the operators now come to collect refuse once a month.
He said, “The refuse collectors usually come weekly, but that is no longer the case. They now come sometimes, once a month, or even skip months. But this does not stop them from collecting LAWMA dues from us. If you don’t pay, they’ll seal your house.”
Another resident, Funmilayo Ojo, blamed weak enforcement and poor monitoring for the worsening refuse crisis.
She said, “PSP acts like they’re untouchable. When we complain, nothing happens even though we pay regularly. Maybe because there’s no proper monitoring and strict law enforcement. Sometimes, for weeks or months, they won’t come at all. The experience we’ve had with PSP here is the worst.”
