The situation, which raises serious public health concerns, has also become a source of worry for the residents and business owners operating in the nation’s capital and environs.
Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja is fast becoming a ghost of itself
with mounting heaps of refuse taking over several parts of the city and satellite towns leaving residents frustrated and fearful of an imminent outbreak of diseases, SaharaReporters can report.
From the major roads to open places in the city center and satellite towns such as Jabi, Wuse, Garki, Maitama, Nyanya, Karu, Kubwa, Kuje and Lugbe, heaps of uncollected garbage have become a common sight, emitting stench, foul odours and attracting flies, rodents, and stray animals.
The city center which is the commercial hub is the worst hit with mountains of illegal open dumping sites that have accumulated waste for an extended period, leading to the attraction of disease vectors, thereby significantly posing health risks to residents and commuters.
The situation, which raises serious public health concerns, has also become a source of worry for the residents and business owners operating in the nation’s capital and environs.
One of the sites which is located near Jabi Park by “Rock of Ages Mall” is an eyesore with its attendant health implications on the residents, passers-by and shop owners.
This particular site not only defaced the capital city but also sparked anxiety over possible outbreaks of cholera, malaria, and other communicable diseases for those living within the area.
Several residents who spoke with SaharaReporters lamented that despite the huge funds allocated annually to waste management, refuse disposal in Abuja has continued to deteriorate.
“It is shameful that the nation’s capital is being swallowed by filth. Everywhere you turn, you see heaps of garbage. We are worried that diseases might spread if this continues,” said Mrs. Rafat Yusuf, a trader in Wuse Market.
Another resident, Mr. John Akpan from Kubwa, expressed anger at what he described as “government negligence.”
“For the past two weeks, nobody has come to collect refuse in my area. The waste bins are overflowing, and now people are dumping trash by the roadside. We can’t even breathe properly because of the stench,” he said.
Public health experts have also raised the alarm, warning that the situation could trigger a major health crisis if urgent steps are not taken. Dr. John Oche, an Abuja-based physician, cautioned that the city was sitting on “a public health time bomb.”
“Uncontrolled waste attracts flies, rats, and mosquitoes, which are carriers of diseases like cholera, typhoid, Lassa fever, and malaria. The government must act fast before we have an epidemic on our hands,” he said.
SaharaReporters gathered that most of the private waste contractors being used by the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) have not been paid for several months, the action that compelled many of them to withdraw their services thereby turning the city to a slum.
Officials of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), when contacted, attributed the situation to logistic and operational challenges, promising that efforts were underway to restore regular waste collection across the city.
Environmental activists have, however, called for accountability, stressing that residents deserve a cleaner and healthier environment in line with Abuja’s status as the capital of Africa’s most populous nation.
Meanwhile, residents have appealed to both the FCT Administration and private waste management contractors to urgently step up their operations, warning that continued neglect could worsen the city’s already fragile public health system.
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