By Bisola Adeyemo
Recently, 10 persons were sentenced to two-month imprisonment in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State capital for indiscriminate dumping of refuse. Is this the best way of tackling environmental mess? Should state governments employ this way of dealing with residents who pollute the environment?
In finding answers to these, NatureNews went to the streets in Abuja to guage people’s views.
Uchenna Innocent, a businessman in karmu market Abuja: Living in a dirty environment is dangerous to health. There are many ways to caution and discipline people, not jailing them. Jailing them will not solve any problem. The government should make available waste bins on all streets and roads including market places as an easy way to dispose trash.
Lovet Udofia: Jjailing people for dumping refuse won’t solve the problem. State and federal governments should provide general bins with strictly rules.
Ajayi Ayomide a resident at Jabi Abuja: There should be officially designated areas with properly integrated waste management systems, which should be
used for dumping refuse, rather than keeping someone away from their family for two months. Such won’t solve any problem.
Caleb Rose, a resident of Jabi Abuja: Some people are so stubborn to the extent that even if government makes available public waste bins, they will not adhere to the instructions. So jailing them will be the best solution. Others will learn lessons from them.
Ayo James in Life Camp:Jailing people for not properly dumping refuse is not good enough. Only a criminal should be jailed. There should be alternative way to discipline offenders like this rather than jail.
Ifeoluwa Akinjiola in Lugbe Abuja: Ekiti people are so stubborn. They failed to obey the law. That is why the state government had to jail offenders. Such cannot be applied in all the states especially here in Abuja.
Elo Moses, a pharmacist in Lugbe Abuja: Living in a dirty environment is very bad and dangerous to health. Dirty environment is associated with infectious diseases. Even without government’s legislation against indiscriminate dumping of refuse, we should try to stay healthy. This is considered the most valuable and precious for every individual.Good health means wealth. We should always stay away from whatever that can damage the system.
David suraj resident at Lugbe Abuja: environmental protection board should take this issue more serious, jailing people for two months won’t solve anything.
