Six-month refuse heap persists on Lagos road despite earlier evacuation

The refuse Photo: Dayo Oyewo

Residents and business owners along the Idimu-Ejigbo Road in Lagos State have raised the alarm over a six-month-old refuse heap on the road median, saying the decomposing waste has subjected them to offensive odours and environmental hazards.

The refuse, located around the Dorcas and Silva Estate end of the road, has reportedly remained unattended despite the presence of waste management operators in the area and an earlier evacuation following a PUNCH Metro report.

Our correspondent observed on Monday that the waste occupied about 150 metres of the road median, with different types of refuse piled along the stretch.

Some of the waste had spilled onto portions of the road, while the prolonged accumulation had become a source of concern to residents, motorists, pedestrians and business owners.

A shop owner at Dorcas Bus Stop, Fatai Adegbenro, said the situation had become unbearable, particularly during hot weather when the odour from the decomposing waste became more pronounced.

He said, “This refuse has been here for about six months. It has become a serious problem for us because of the smell. Whenever you pass this place, especially in the afternoon, the odour is unbearable.

“Both LAWMA and PSP operators collect refuse from residents, so we do not understand why this heap has been left here for this long. The road is being defaced, and nobody appears to be taking responsibility for clearing it.”

Another resident, who identified himself only as Philip, described the situation as embarrassing, noting that the road was heavily used by motorists and pedestrians.

“This is a major road, and people use it every day. Imagine seeing this kind of heap of refuse on the median for months. It is embarrassing, and the smell is terrible,” he said.

The development is coming weeks after PUNCH Metro reported that residents of the area had complained about refuse heaps that had remained on road medians linking Ejigbo and Idimu for about four months.

Following the report, the waste was evacuated from parts of the affected stretch.

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However, residents said the latest evacuation did not cover the entire area, leaving the refuse heap around the Dorcas and Silva Estate end of the road untouched.

A trader in the community, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “They only cleared the ones at Idimu Bus Stop towards OPC Junction and never came to this part of the road.

“So, it was assumed they cleared the whole refuse, but they never did.”

Another shop owner, Anjarat Adewale, said the situation was affecting businesses around the area, particularly food vendors.

She said, “Customers are reluctant to stay around, let alone buy food. This is due to the offensive odour.

“The food vendor that was here before has gone elsewhere. She cannot continue to run at a loss because LAWMA failed to do their job.

“We are appealing to them to come and clear it and ensure that it does not return. The PSP operators should also do what they are being paid to do.”

Residents appealed to the Lagos Waste Management Authority to urgently evacuate the refuse and prevent further accumulation, warning that the prolonged presence of the waste could pose health and safety risks.

The residents also called for closer monitoring of waste collection and evacuation activities along the road to prevent refuse cleared from one section from remaining in another.

The persistence of refuse heaps in parts of Lagos has continued to generate complaints from residents, with waste sometimes accumulating on road medians, streets and major highways despite interventions by the state government and LAWMA.

Efforts to obtain the reaction of the LAWMA Managing Director, Muyiwa Gbadegesin, were unsuccessful on Monday, as calls and WhatsApp messages sent to him were not responded to as of the time of filing this report.