In recent time, the ancient City Of Ibadan has been taken over by unpleasant smell, traffic Congestion, Floods and what have. The reason for this alien development is not far-fetched. misplaced dirts and wastes have been the main reason. The Drainage have been filled with dirts and wastes which it difficult for erosion to find it way.
Akéde Ọ̀yọ́ observed that recent traffic congestion at major roads as well as flood that has taken over part of the City is traceable to that fact that people are now disposing waste where everywhere because the dump sites are not functioning effectively again.
Also, an informed Observation by Akéde Ọ̀yọ́ have it that this recent happenstance can’t be divorced from the alleged rift between the State government and Waste Management Contractors over unpaid contact fee which resulted to two weeks warning strike by the Contractor. This action however stunt the dump sites as some of the Contractor are yet to resume work.
Akéde Ọ̀yọ́ understands that this current administration has not been having it good with waste management in the state.
Recall that Gov. Seyi Makinde had on November 25, 2019 declared a state of emergency on refuse collection and waste management in the state.
The governor’s Chief Presss Secretary, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, had quoted his boss as saying that “the poor waste management could have wider implications on the state of health of individuals in the state, adding that if care was not taken, the health situation of people in the state may worsen.”
The emergency declaration, Akéde Ọ̀yọ́ recalls, came two weeks after the revocation of the agreement with Messrs. West Africa Energy, which operated under the name Solous MRF. 1 Ltd.
Alleging that the company did not live up to expectation in cleaning the city, late environment commissioner, Kehinde Ayoola, had stated that the company was found to be in material breach of the contractual terms.
It would also be recalled that the incumbent administration in February 2020, launched the “Clean and Green Initiative,” put together by the ministry of environment and natural resources in conjunction with the Oyo State Waste Management Authority, OYWMA.
In places like Iwo road, Gate, Oje, Bere, Oja’ba, Mapo, Idi-Arere, Molete, Challenge, dirts have taken over available spaces.
“Now there is no where you go to in Ibadan without traffic. This is as a result of blockages on the drainages by roadsides. So, it has affected the road,” said a top member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
In Mokola, Bodija, Sango, Eleyele, Ojoo, Gbagi and other inner parts of Ibadan, flood takes over major streets when it rains as the drainage and adjoining gutters have been blocked due to indiscriminate dumping of refuse and waste.
Efforts to speak with Prince Morounfolu Adelore, chairman of the Oyo State Waste Management Authority, OYWMA, were not successful as at press time.
Sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity with Akéde Ọ̀yọ́ disclosed that dumpsites in Ibadan are no more working perfectly.
“Government has approved that waste be dumped on a bare land along Alomaja road in Oluyole local government without considering the environmental impact nor making proper arrangements to turn the land into a landfill. The land is also just beside a river… =eople will suffer, so many will die…yet we are all looking,” one of the explained.
In June 2020, the contractor handling the project the clean & green project, Mr. Idowu Salawu, said the initiative had created 12,000 direct jobs for skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled income earners in Oyo State, through the on-going rehabilitation at Awotan dump site.
Salawu, whose company, Macpresse West Africa Ltd. is handling the rehabilitation of Awotan and Ajakanga dumpsites revealed that the project has birthed 500 registered private companies that are engaged in refuse collection at the 11 LGAs in the 1st phase of the programme.
“Each registered company invested in the purchase of minimum of 2 refuse collection trucks valued at N24 million and each truck employs a minimum of 6 persons in its day to day running”, he said.
Making further analysis, Salawu said, “the scheme, called clean and green initiative, has engaged 6,000 direct employment opportunity. Each, presently engaged 500 PSP operators having six personnel managing the 1,000 trucks with drivers, motor boys and 4 refuse parkers engaged on a permanent basis”.
“Other employment created from the scheme includes 100 daily workers at the host community of Awotan, Apete and Akufo in Ido LGA where the ongoing rehabilitation of dumpsite has provided jobs for about 100 refuse dump scavengers and construction workers that make their daily livelihood at the dumpsite”, he added.
