By Obike Ukoh
In August 2022, the Ebonyi State Government, under then Gov. Dave Umahi sacked all contractors handling refuse evacuation in Abakaliki, the state capital. Before government took the decision, mountainous refuse heaps dot many strategic areas of the state capital.
The then Commissioner for Environment, Dr Richard Nnabu explained that the state government took the action following complaints of laxity against the contractors.
The government called on those who have interest in waste disposal to approach the government, but must demonstrate the capacity to do so within seven days.
The contractors used old tippers and hire labourers that use rakes and shovels to collect the refuse from the numerous dump sites.
Incumbent Ebonvi Governor, Francis Nwifuru has sustained prompt refuse disposal through timely payment to contractors. The improved refuse disposal is evident, as Ebonyi was one of the eight states, listed as the cleanest in the country by National Technical Study Group (NTSG).
.The top eight cleanest states according to NTSG are: Akwa Ibom, Enugu, Edo, Cross River, Delta, Plateau, FCT and Ebonyi. .
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According to the NTSG Ebonyi State has been ranking as one of the cleanest states in Nigeria for some time now, because of the dedication towards ensuring wastes are discarded properly, and moreover, building modern facilities to keep up with neatness and avoid environmental hazards.
However, despite prompt disposal of refuse in Abakaliki as a result of government living up to its financial responsibility, experts stressed that Ebonyi must adopt modern urban refuse disposal method.
For now, there are many uncoordinated refuse dumping sites in many parts of Abakaliki. For example, on the Old Enugu Road, from Engineer Abass Egwu Road junction to Pastoral Centre, there are more than five dumping sites, a distance of not more than a kilometer. The refuse are indiscriminately dumped on the ground as there are no refuse bins.
The story is the same, all over over Abakaliki.
The experts noted that it is archaic to use dilapidated tippers; engage workers that use shovels and rakes for refuse disposal, while other modern methods are available.
An environmental health expert, Mr Kalu Ejere who spoke on the issue, stressed the need for deployment of receptacles for effective refuse disposal. He noted that dumping refuse on the ground is not environmentally healthy.
He said that it is necessary and imperative to provide receptacles or refuse bins, to boost effective refuse evacuation to final refuse dumps.
Kalu also said that instead of tippers, motor rollers, specifically designed for refuse evacuation should be used.
He said that Ebonyi should adopt the approach of Abia State, through which the mountainous refuse heaps problem in Aba was solved.
The Abia State Government, through the firm handling the refuse evacuation project, ordered for about 100 receptacles to be deployed at strategic points in Aba, Umuahia and other towns to avoid indiscriminate refuse disposal.
Dr Paul Okorie, a former Commissioner for Environment in Ebonyi State, echoed the need for a drift from the current refuse disposal strategy in Ebonyi. The former commissioner also called for joining the national and global trend of Wastes to Wealth Initiative.
Okorie, who was also a one time Commissioner for Works in Ebonyi State, said most developed countries adopt the house to house approach for refuse disposal.
He stressed that Ebonyi State should strive to adopt that approach.
“ When I was Commissioner for Environment, we were moving towards that, we selected some areas in Abakaliki for the pilot stage. That was the situation before I left the Ministry. Transitory dumping sites, that dot many parts of Abakaliki metropolis is not the best,’’ the former commissioner stressed.
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He noted that house to house refuse collection would also boost the establishment of recycling plants.
Okorie said that the residents could be supplied bags or they buy the bags themselves. He said that this will enable them to sort the refuse into degradable and non-degradable, among others.
He stressed that these properly arranged refuse in bags will now be evacuated to central dumping sites, where ideally recycling plants should be located.
The former commissioner said that it is easily achievable if the people are sensitized, stressing that it will encourage establishment of recycling plants, that would result to the production of organic fertilizer, among others.
This, Okorie said, would enable Ebonyi State tap from the hidden wealth in the waste management sector.
Experts put the yet untapped wealth in Nigeria’s waste management sector at about 250 billion dollars.
Mr Ekpoye Promise Nakus, the Managing Director, Pioneer Waste Master Ltd, noted that improper and indiscriminate disposal have been an endemic problem in Nigeria and by extension the entire Africa.
He described the sector as enormous, left untapped and mismanaged, stressing that the waste management value chain in Nigeria is strategic and there is need to scale up the sector.
The house to house refuse disposal suggested by Okorie for Ebonyi is latently being given a push by Lagos State, while plans are under way at the national level to recognize the activities of waste pickers.
The Lagos State initiative, Eco Circulate, recently launched in Badagry, though not a house to house refuse collection, was designed to sensitize the people on the economic value of wastes.
During the ceremony, residents received various rewards from the Lagos State Government’s new Circular Economy Initiative, aimed at boosting sustainable development practices.
Residents thronged the venue to exchange their wastes ranging from pet bottles, rubbers and other disposed household items to get food items like rice, garri and instant cash rewards, through transfers into their bank accounts.
The event tagged ‘Eco-Circulate’, was organized by the Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Climate Change and Circular Economy, led by Mrs. Titilayo Oshodi.
Eco-Circulate, is sensitization campaign to enlighten communities on values waste can offer for their needs.
According to the Special Adviser “Eco Circulate is a waste valorization, data aggregation and circular education programme used to enlighten and teach the community about the value around waste recycling.
“Every community needs to be educated and enlightened. They need to understand that effective and responsible management of their waste will affect their health and productivity, financial capability and improve their overall quality of life.”
The Federal Government and the International Labour Organisation, on their part, in order to deepen circular economy, planned to develop a National Digital Repository (NDR), for waste pickers in line with the Circular Economy Programme of the country.
Minister of Environment Abbas Lawal who spoke at the stakeholders meeting held recently in Abuja, said the forum will develop NDR for waste pickers in order to address their challenges.
“We cannot speak about sustainable waste management without reference to the operations of waste pickers, who form an integral part of the waste value chain.
“ Waste pickers exist as unsung heroes, who provide essential services that ensure the protection of our environment and public health,’’ the minister stated.
Both the Eco Circulate initiative of the Lagos State Government and the planned recognition of waste pickers, are akin to the house to house refuse disposal globally practised and recommended for Ebonyi State.
Unarguably, refuse collection from the numerous dumping sites that dot many parts of Abakaliki have greatly improved. However, as suggested by experts, Ebonyi State as a matter of urgency should embrace modern refuse collection and disposal methods. (ENDS)
