Ogun residents lament illegal dump in Pakuro, urging swift government action to prevent health risks from the growing waste and foul odour

Residents and traders told our correspondents that the stench from the mounting refuse has made daily life unbearable. Commuters waiting at bus stops endure the foul odour, while those living and trading nearby complain of breathing difficulties.

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A business owner, Okafor Sunday, said the dumpsite was a threat to their health.

“As we are sitting here, we can barely breathe because of the odour coming from the refuse dump. The government has refused to do its job, and it is killing us slowly,” he lamented.

Another resident, Peace, revealed that the community had resorted to burning waste since officials stopped collecting refuse.

“It has been almost three months since the waste management officials came. Some residents pack and burn the waste every Thursday, but the smoke is also unbearable and dangerous,” she explained.

A trader, Godwin, added that the rubbish had clogged drainage channels, worsening pollution.

“The refuse smells so bad, especially when it is hot. It also blocks the drainage, creating potholes and stagnant water, which makes the smell worse,” he said.

He appealed to the government to provide a proper disposal system to protect lives.

Responding, the Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, said the government had begun steps to clear the dumpsite.

“I have instructed the Managing Director, Ogun State Waste Management Authority, Abayomi Hunye, to close the dump immediately. I am very sure he will do the needful promptly,” Oresanya told our correspondent by telephone.

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The commissioner acknowledged earlier in February that illegal dumps had become a recurring challenge across the state. He assured residents that the ministry was working towards shutting down the sites as part of wider reforms in the waste management system.