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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Culture & Society

Uncollected refuse undermines Lagos sanitation efforts, residents say

From The Punch · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Residents in Lagos State's Alimosho area are frustrated by uncollected refuse, which undermines the monthly environmental sanitation exercise.
  • They complain that cleared waste is not being evacuated promptly by Private Sector Participation (PSP) trucks.
  • Residents are questioning the sustainability of the exercise if waste is not removed, impacting the environment and their willingness to participate.

Residents of Lagos State's Alimosho area are expressing deep frustration over persistent, uncollected refuse, stating that the ongoing accumulation of garbage is negating the purpose of the state's monthly environmental sanitation exercise.

Despite residents' commitment to cleaning their surroundings, they report that cleared waste remains in gutters and streets because Private Sector Participation (PSP) trucks are failing to evacuate it promptly. This lack of timely waste removal is discouraging participation and undermining the effectiveness of the sanitation efforts, which were resumed in April after a nearly decade-long break.

However, it is quite discouraging to see the refuse we have cleared return to the gutters because the PSP trucks have refused to come pick them.

— Shola AboroA resident of Apatira Street, explaining the challenges faced with waste evacuation.

"It will be futile if all we do monthly is to clear our environment and the refuse is not cleared out by the agency responsible for it," said one resident, Mummy Daniel. She added that paying monthly for PSP services has yielded no results for the past four months, making the exercise feel pointless.

It will be futile if all we do monthly is to clear our environment and the refuse is not cleared out by the agency responsible for it.

— Mummy DanielA resident expressing discouragement over uncleared refuse.

Another resident, Nose Omorodion, stated that the pervasive refuse heaps have discouraged him from participating. "The environment is dirty, everywhere you turn there is a pile of dirt, so what are we coming to clean?" he questioned, expressing doubt about promises of future waste clearance.

The situation highlights a disconnect between the monthly cleanup drives and the essential waste evacuation services, raising concerns about public health and the overall cleanliness of the city. Commercial motorcyclist Ambrose Udeh noted that while he participates in the exercise, the need to earn a living means he must work during the restricted hours.

The environment is dirty, everywhere you turn there is a pile of dirt, so what are we coming to clean?

— Nose OmorodionA resident of Cash Street, lamenting the persistent refuse heaps.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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