Special Report: How Abule-Egba Dumpsite Transforms Into Scavenger Settlement, posing as threat

By Our Reporter

A landfill site  in the Abule-Egba area of Lagos State has been converted into a makeshift settlement by scavengers, raising concerns about the safety and well-being of nearby residents.

The scavengers have taken advantage of the absence of a wall surrounding the dumpsite to build shanties and engage in various activities, including rearing livestock such as cows and pigs.

The presence of these scavengers poses significant risks to the residents in the area, as their activities may lead to various health hazards and environmental pollution.

The scavengers, driven by necessity, navigate the landscape of discarded dreams and forgotten remnants.

Their hands, weathered and stained, sift through the debris, searching for anything salvageable.

The scavengers handle waste materials with their bare hands, unknowingly exposing themselves to toxic chemicals and pathogens.

The landfill’s toxic brew—composed of industrial waste, heavy metals, and decaying organic matter—clings to their skin, infiltrating their immune systems.

Amidst the heaps, viruses, bacteria, and parasites thrive. Diseases such as intestinal protozoa, helminths, and skin infections pose a constant threat.

Yet, the scavengers persist, driven by desperation into broken glass, rusty nails, and sharp edges that lie hidden within the refuse.

Adjacent to the landfill stands the bustling Ilepo Oke-Odo market. Shoppers flock there, unaware of the unseen danger.

Food items sold in the market may carry the taint of contamination—the legacy of a scavenger’s touch. The proximity of this market to the landfill amplifies the risk.

Despite residents’ bitter complaints, the Lagos State government has yet to take decisive action.

Mr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), responded tersely to our reporter when contacted, “We will remove them soon.” But time slips away, and the scavengers remain—a testament to resilience and desperation.

The Abule-Egba community’s safety hangs in the balance. Immediate steps must be taken to dislodge the scavengers and restore the landfill site to its intended purpose.

Failure to act swiftly risks dire consequences for public health and the environment.

As the sun sets over the makeshift settlement, the scavengers continue their fragile ballet—a delicate balance between survival and peril. Their story, etched in the refuse, awaits its resolution.