By; PATRICK TITUS, Uyo.
Except Akwa Ibom State Government is proactive, many residents of Uyo living along Willington Bassey Way and its adjoining areas may die of lung related diseases cause by inhalation of polluted air from the state government dump site located in the area.
Reports making rounds in the state indicated that one Mrs. Irene Umoh who was a senior nursing officer at St. Luke Hospital, Anua and several others have allegedly died as a result of the toxic that come from the dump site.
New Nigerian however observed that apart from the stench, residents also complained of other environmental hazards like water pollution, destruction of farmlands and erosion, just as many residents have fled the area for safety.
Speaking with journalists who visited the dump site on Monday, Mr. Anthony who identified himself as a sister to late Mrs. Umoh revealed that some of the affected residents had written series of petitions, instituted court cases without commiserate response from government.
According to Umoh, the state government only responded when the protesters blocked access to the dump site, leaving truck loads of refuse all over the state capital.
Lamenting the death of his sister, Umoh explained that doctors at Max Healthcare Super Speciality Hospital, India, on examining the deceased traced her ailment to frequent inhalation of toxic substances, under which she had been exposed to over the years.
“I took her to India and the doctors there diagnosed her of lung infection. The doctors asked us if she worked in a factory where she was constantly exposed to hazardous substances, or live in a polluted environment. When we came back to Akwa Ibom State, we also went to Ibom Specialist Hospital, Uyo, where she finally died.
“We have lost many young people here. Apart from my sister, recently we also lost a youth leader, Nsima Udotung; a couple and a number of others. As we speak, the security guard who takes care of this environment has been severely ill.
“The soil around this vicinity is contaminated as iron dumped in thee place, secretes acidic substances into soil contaminating portable water sources, plants, and vegetation. And in dry seasons, the heat the in the dump site, usually trigger flame causing thick smoke that engulf the entire area for days,” he said.
Umoh regretted that while previous administrations were able to push the refuse into the ravine, the immediate past and present administrations have displayed high level of insensitivity to the plight of the people around there by littering the environment with refuse, like corpses dumped in refuse bins; aborted babies in polythene bags, among others.
Another resident, Mr. Sunday Udo, attributed negligence of the area to personal interest of politicians in the previous and present administrations.
He alleged that most of the trucks used in carrying refuse to the site, belong both to the former commissioner for environment and a member of the state House of Assembly.
It was discovered that the dump site also harbour illicit businesses as some hoodlums run what a local resident describes as ‘the biggest drug cartel’ managed by a young girl within the dump site. Scavengers have also exploited on the opportunity to abuse 18 underage children, housed in a hut within the dump site.
When visited for comment, the commissioner for environment, Dr. Iniobong Essien, admitted the sordid state of the environment. He noted that government was also working to provide alternative dump site that would be far from the people, along Uyo Village Road.
The commissioner, who commiserated with the deceased families and others affected, by the pollutants, said the state government was currently working on a design for a proper waste recycling plant that would address the problem.
He regretted that the project could not be implemented immediately because of investors’ lack of interest as it is no longer business as usual.
He added that government would soon have stakeholders meeting with residents with a view to administering health intervention and proper health check on those that have been affected by explosion to dump diseases.
He said, “The community is the lowest point around Barracks Road; that is why we have come out with a design to restructure the area and make the environment conducive for the residents.
“If you look at the place, you will notice that some residents can no longer drive to their homes any more. So, we need to take a very holistic look at the situation. So far, we have decided to provide alternative dump site.”
