By Abbas Nazil
Residents of Dei-Dei Community in Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory have raised concern over worsening waste management challenges, warning that indiscriminate refuse disposal, inadequate waste collection services and poor sanitation practices are threatening public health and degrading the environment.
The concerns were expressed during separate interviews with journalists, where residents described growing heaps of uncollected waste as a major environmental and health hazard.
They said refuse dumped indiscriminately along roadsides, open spaces and drainage channels has become a common sight in the community, leading to environmental pollution, blocked waterways and increased risk of flooding, especially during the rainy season.
A trader, Ibrahim Sani, blamed the situation on the shortage of waste collection points and the irregular evacuation of refuse by relevant authorities.
He said the offensive odour from decomposing waste had become unbearable, particularly during the rainy season, while blocked drainage channels continued to worsen flooding after heavy rainfall.
Sani appealed to the authorities to provide additional waste collection bins across the community and ensure timely evacuation of refuse to improve environmental sanitation.
A food vendor, Joy Eze, expressed fears over the health implications of the poor waste disposal culture, saying overflowing refuse dumps attracted flies, mosquitoes and rodents capable of spreading dangerous diseases.
She noted that children were particularly vulnerable because many played around contaminated areas, exposing them to infections and other health risks.
Another resident, Chinyere Nnadinma, urged members of the community to adopt responsible waste disposal habits instead of dumping refuse into gutters and open spaces.
She stressed that maintaining a clean environment required collective responsibility and encouraged residents to participate actively in community sanitation exercises.
An environmental health officer, Chidi Okoli, warned that poor waste management could trigger outbreaks of communicable diseases such as cholera, typhoid fever and diarrhoea if left unchecked.
He explained that decomposing waste polluted soil and water sources, while the burning of refuse released harmful pollutants into the atmosphere, posing additional environmental and public health risks.
Okoli said sustainable waste management depended on regular refuse collection, adequate disposal facilities, recycling initiatives and continuous public awareness campaigns to promote proper sanitation practices.
He also called for stricter enforcement of environmental sanitation laws to discourage indiscriminate dumping of waste and improve compliance with existing regulations.
The residents appealed to the Federal Capital Territory Administration and relevant environmental agencies to increase the number of waste bins in the community, evacuate refuse more frequently and intensify public sensitisation on proper waste disposal.
They expressed optimism that improved waste management practices would help create a cleaner environment, reduce the incidence of disease outbreaks and improve the quality of life for residents of Dei-Dei Community.