Recently, Jos-based social media users have raised concerns about the indiscriminate disposal of waste across the metropolis, especially at Dadin Kowa.
Driving the news: Just below the pedestrian bridge at Dadin Kowa’ First Gate lies heaps of waste, including sewage.
This waste is dumped by residents into an abandoned truck attachment belonging to the Plateau Environmental Protection and Sanitation Agency (PEPSA), meaning it’s the designated area within the community for refuse dumping.
However, due to negligence by PESPA, the refuse is allowed to pile up. Aside from the ugly scene it creates on the route, it also causes air pollution around the community.
Why it Matters: This particular refuse dump site which is one out of many across the metropolis is located at Yakubu Gowon Way, one of the major roads leading to the City Centre. It is also located a few meters away from Azi Nyako Youth Centre.
State of play: At the time of this report, PEPSA has not cleared the refuse which has been piling up for several weeks now.
Residents or traders within the community have also not made efforts in curbing the situation.
Way out: PEPSA needs to be more proactive in ensuring that the environment stays clean.
“To enhance public participation, sensitize the people to imbibe the habit of keeping their environments clean, thereby promoting good health for the citizenry and reducing the cost to the government,” reads PEPSA’s mission statement.
With a new administration coming on board in a few weeks, it’s the role of the media and citizens to toughen the advocacy to ensure a healthy environment.
This includes the procurement of more facilities and equipment for waste management across the Metropolis.
As well as the establishment of a recovery center to enable the recycling of some of the waste and the development of final deposit sites.
Some of these plans have already been earmarked by PEPSA but they have not been implemented.