Makurdi City Evolving into Refuse metropolis
Jimmie Adzande
Makurdi
With a growing population and poor environmental management, almost every part of Makurdi town is home to one indescriminate refuse dump.
The water channels meant for drainages are not spared in this unruly behavior. It was discovered in most of the dumps visited that the activities mostly happen at nights.
The people you see around the refuse dumps in the day time are scavengers for items, who are not guilty of the crime. Those who spoke to our reporter including Theresa Gwadue said the government has not taken any decisive role in taming the situation. Most of the dumps, have been around for decades.
Some, whose houses or places of businesses are affected by this trend say there is little they can do to address the act. Because the government has not provided a policy direction or alternatives in that line. According to Mrs. Helen Ayua, most of residents dump at odd hours.
Health expert, Reuben Iorzua say it is toxic to leave close to a refuse dump as there are quite a number of diseases one can contact by air or water pollution, emanating from the dumps.
Worrisome is the fact that in all the sites visited, it appears no community has a plan in place to curtail the menace. Some have accepted the dumps as part of their neighbourhood even as there is no conscious efforts by the government to clear them.
