Following our report of the huge wastes that took over two schools in Amuzukwu – Girls Secondary School, Amuzukwu and Community Primary School, Amuzukwu, an agency of government, Abia State Environmental Agency (ASEPA) at the eve of the Christmas day evacuated the wastes.
We had reported that the second wave of the Coronavirus may take its tolls in Abia State particularly in Amuzukwu Community as huge refuse had taken over the two schools as well as many flashpoints in the state, thus leaving the entire citizenry at the mercy of environmental propelled disease such as the dreaded COVID-19.
However, most parts of the state remain environmentally unfriendly as mountainous wastes still run riots in them. They include: Ngwa Road, Ariaria axis of the Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway, Asa Road, Ogbor Hill, etc all in Aba. In Umuahia, areas like Upstairs Line, Umuwaya Road, Olokoro Road, Ubakala Road etc are filled with debris.
Fielding questions from our reporter as his men scooped the debris into a waiting wastes disposal truck, Mr Chidiebere Ogbuehi, a deputy director in ASEPA described the dumpsites as illegal, pointing out that the dumpsite should not have been located there: between two schools in the first place.
“No one approved a dumpsite in this place because if you put a dumpsite here, where there are two schools, then you’re literary making room for an epidemic which is very dangerous for the citizenry.
“This site was man-made; it is because of traders in the market here – Amuzukwu Relief Market -recently relocated here from Isigate dispose their wastes in this place. The market should be relocated immediately. It’s not supposed to be here because traders will definitely dispose their wastes anywhere they found themselves, thus endangering lives of those around them, pupils/students inclusive”, he said.
According to him, the swift evacuation of the refuse was to save the people living in the vicinity from any outbreak of any deadly disease resulting from environmental degradation and also to make those coming back to Abia State from different parts of the world for the Christmas and New Year festivities the opportunity of enjoying fresh air that’s in Abia.
Uche Nwosu is a two time Shell Petroleum PLC award winner in the year 2000;
He won the Shell Award on Investigative Journalism and Environmental Cleanliness.
