Ilorin residents lament refuse situation, water scarcity

Date: 2018-01-10

Heaps of refuse have taken over major streets in Ilorin as a result of the inability of Kwara Waste Management Company to evacuate garbage from waste bins since last month.

A News Agency of Nigeria correspondent who went round the city on Tuesday reports that the bins, stationed at designated points across the city, were full to the brim, thereby forcing residents to dump refuse by the roadside and walkways.

Some of the residents, who spoke with NAN, decried the situation, saying that it portended grave danger to the people's health, as failure to evacuate the refuse could provoke an outbreak of diseases. They said that it had become a norm for the company to abandon refuse containers by the roadside until they emitted stinking odour into the atmosphere, causing serious discomfort to the residents.

NAN reports that major areas that are mostly affected include the Oniyangi area on Emir's Road, Princess Road/Balogun Fulani Road junction, Ilorin central market, Isale Oja roundabout and Ipata market, among others.

NAN also observes the absence of workers engaged to sweep major streets, which a source attributed to the failure of the government to pay their salary arrears.

Azeez Agbomojo, a resident of the Emir's Road neighbourhood, said that the protracted failure to clear refuse by the roadside had become unbearable for most residents, as it could cause an epidemic.

He urged the waste management agency to urgently initiate measures to address the development.

According to him, no state can afford to face the consequences of a plague, particularly at a time when the citizens are facing harsh economic conditions.

Aishat Ibrahim, a trader, also warned of the consequences of abandoning refuse by the streets, saying that the situation had destroyed the reputation of Ilorin as one of the cleanest cities in the country.

"Government should know that cleanliness is next to Godliness," she added.

When NAN sought the reaction of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, its Press Secretary, Gbenga Ishola, expressed regret over the delay in waste evacuation in the city.

He pledged that the ministry would address the issue in due course.

Also, residents of Ilorin and its environs are groaning following perennial water scarcity which has resurfaced in the city.

NAN reports that the residents of Ilorin town would have to walk a distance to fetch water for drinking and for other domestic use. Many residents, NAN gathers, are sourcing water from motorized borehole drilled by the privileged individuals in their areas.

Some residents at Emir's road, Balogun Fulani, Taiwo road, Okelele, Gambari and Baboko among others told NAN that the pitiable situation had become a recurrence decimal in the Kwara capital.

They asserted that the state government was doing little to ameliorate the suffering of the people.

"No sooner that dry season sets in; we begin to experience water scarcity in earnest.

"It has become a perennial experience that government will need to urgently address with short and long term measures", Ronke Asekunlowo told NAN.

Oba La'aro, a staff of the University of Ilorin, decried situation where water supply in the capital was receding into a village size supply.

According to him, substantial number of the residents would have to troop out in search of water every morning and evening.

Abdulrazaq Akorede, the state Commissioner for Water Resource, while reacting said the problem of water shortage in Ilorin would soon be resolved once the ongoing water reticulation project is completed.

He expressed optimism that with the level of works done so far, the project would be completed in the next four to five months.

The commissioner, however, lamented that some facilities of the water project were being destroyed by some vandals, which he said was affecting the progress of the project.

He explained that both the state and the federal governments had carried out interventions on some water projects in the state.

According to him, there was an ongoing expansion of Malete waterworks and Agba Dam waterworks, which is almost completed.

The construction of the Malete waterworks, he said, was facilitated by the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki and would be completed soon and inaugurated.

He added that the state government would also work on the Oyun waterworks. He said that the government appreciated the patience of people of the state while the project lasts.

(NAN)

 


Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Kwara State Health Insurance Agency     Aisha Abodunrin Ibrahim     COEASU     General Hospital     Olokoba     Agbarigidoma     Akeem Olatunji     Henry Olaosebikan     GANZY     Mahe Abdulkadir     Ibrahim Oloriegbe     Hydro-electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission     Unicontinental Construction Company     Olushola Saraki     George Innih     Cassava Growers\' Association     Ilesha-Baruba-Gwanara     Kola Ologbondiyan     Adamu Ibrahim Sabi     YAKOOYO     Olajumoke Monsura Gafar     Temi Kolawole     Florence Saraki     Seni Saraki     Chief Imam Of Ilorin     Amos Sayo     Nigeria Governors\' Forum     Adamu Atta     Abubakar Lah     Kamaldeen Kehinde     Student Learning Support Helpline     Oro Grammar School Old Students Association     Ilesha-Baruba     Sam Okaula     Suleiman Abubakar     Abdulmumin Yinka Ajia     Moses Rahman Popoola     Ilorin Emirate Staff Association     Raimi Iyanda     Plat Technologies Limited     Risikat Lawal     Shuaib Abdulkadir     Apado     Amina Susa\'a De Ahmed     Ajuloopin     Royal FM     Tanke Road     Galland Marcias     JAAC     Esinrogunjo     Millennium Development Goals     Salihu Ajia     Abdulrosheed Okiki     ITP     Abdulkadir Akanbi-Oke     Bello John Olanrewaju     Ishola Abdullahi     Ilorin Durbar     Yusuf Amuda Abubakar     Amada Jidda     Bello Oyebanji     Wasiu Odewale     Femi Oladiji     Baba-Isale     Ahmed Idris Mohammed     PAACO-PCL Consortium     Oloje     Gbadeyan Gbadura Yomi     Rihanat Ajia     Chief Of Staff     Ahmed Shuaib Buranga     Adewuyi Funmilayo     SSA Youth Engagement     Aso-ofi     Adisa Logun     Labour Party     Dogara    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Ronke Adeyemi     Sarafadeen Kayode Akorede     Olubukola Kifayat Adedeji     Saheed Alakoso     Abubakar Suleiman     Kwara Polytechnic     James Kolo     John Dara     Labour Party     Alfa Modibbo Belgore     Abubakar B.M     CUTI     Tuesday Assayomo     Babs Iwarere     Ojo Fadumila     Chief Imam Of Offa     Halimat Yusuf     Olomu Of Omu-Aran     Ubandoma Of Ilorin     Awodun     Amuda Aluko     Odogun Olushola Gabriel     Ibrahim Abdulkadir Abikan     Bilikisu Gambari     Isaac Gbenle     Tinubu     Seed Technologies     Shaaba Lafiagi     Yusuf Abdulkadir     Muyiwa Oladipo Kanu     Alimi     Toyin Saraki     IHS Towers     Share-Tsaragi     Olayinka Oladapo Jogunola     Ahmed Shuaib Buranga     Nagode     Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq     Valsolar Consortium     Ilesha-Baruba     Oyin-Zubair     Neo Mundo Ltd     Oasis Muslim Care Foundation     Dar-Al-Handasah Consultants     Ojuekun Sarumi     Women For Change And Development Initiative     Kehinde Baale     Kwara Hotel     Yahaya Muhammad     Jimoh Bashir     Ganmo Electricity Sub-Station     AbdulRahman Saad     Bolaji Abdullahi     Olatunde Olukoya     Saidu Kawu     Kwara Volleyball Association     Wahab Issa     Sheikh Ridhwanullah     Christopher Tunji Ayeni     Kwara State Branch Of The National Library     Yoonus Lawal     Lasiele Alabi Yahaya     Jumoke F. Ajao     Maigida     Kubra Kazum     Crystal Corner Shops     IPSAS     Temi Kolawole     Elekoyangan     Olaoye B. Felix     Yakubu Dogara     Kamaldeen Gambari     Fulani     ER-KANG     Kwara State Infrastructure Development Fund     GANZY     Michael Nzwekwe