By Abdullahi Lukman
Residents of Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State on Wednesday staged a protest over the continued presence of a controversial dumpsite, rejecting assurances from the council chairman, Olamilekan Kushimo, that its evacuation would take time and demanding immediate action to prevent a potential public health crisis.
The protesters, carrying placards, marched from the NNPC filling station to the Ifo Local Government Secretariat, causing temporary disruption to traffic along the old Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.
According to the residents, the dumpsite has become a major environmental and health concern, while also contributing to the deterioration of the only access road connecting the expressway to more than 80 surrounding communities and villages.
Addressing the protesters, Kushimo acknowledged the challenges posed by the dumpsite and said the local government had taken steps toward resolving the issue.
He explained that the major obstacle was securing a suitable alternative location for the waste.
The chairman said discussions had been held with the Ogun State Government and the Ogun State Waste Management Authority, noting that proposed relocation sites had been rejected by host communities.
He added that the evacuation process required consultations, approvals and other administrative procedures before implementation.
However, residents expressed dissatisfaction with the explanation, particularly after the chairman indicated that the relocation process could take several months.
The statement sparked anger among protesters, who accused the council of failing to show urgency in addressing a long-standing problem.
Some protesters also alleged that the chairman’s conduct during the engagement further heightened tensions, while the meeting ended without additional assurances from the council leadership.
Speaking during the protest, convener of the Make Ogun State Great Again Movement, Olawoye Kayode, described the situation as a decades-old challenge that successive administrations had failed to address
He said the dumpsite, which has existed for more than 35 years, now poses serious environmental and public health risks due to its proximity to residential areas, markets and major roads.
According to him, residents fear possible outbreaks of diseases such as cholera if urgent action is not taken.
Kayode noted that community leaders had previously met with the Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, who reportedly assured them that the site could be evacuated within 12 days after discussions with contractors.
Another resident, Oluwashola Busayo, said several appeals and letters had been submitted to both local and state authorities without any visible progress. He urged the two tiers of government to collaborate and accelerate efforts to clear the dumpsite.
Earlier, Oresanya had assured residents that the state government was already working on plans to relocate the waste site as part of efforts to address environmental concerns in the area.
