Agege Stadium has some of the best toilet facilities for league fans. PHOTO: SAMUEL IFETOYE
Traditional households in the outskirts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja are battling on how they can dispose human solid waste from the environment due to lack of toilet facilities.
The affected areas, where indiscriminate dumping of refuge and human solid waste exist include; Mpape, Lugbe, Karishi, Jikwoyi, Gudu Dagba, Karimo, Dutse, Bwari, Gwagalada and others.
FCT Chairman of Nigerian Environmental Society, Efegbidiki Okobia, who spoke during a tour of the affected areas, lamented the likelihood of epidemic outbreak, especially at, Kapwa in Lugbe area.He disclosed, thousands of indigenes and residents are at risk of contacting Cholera, Lassa fever, hepatitis and other deadly ailments as a result of drinking from polluted underground water.
Okobia also said odour oozing out from the villages could cause serious health hazard to the people, called on Abuja Municipal Area Council, AMAC, to urgently provide public toilet, and clean water in line with SDG goals.
According to him, there are faece littering all over Community Burial Ground, causing air pollution, pointing out that there is the need for advocacy to make the people know the adverse effect of indiscriminate littering of human solid waste.
One of the residents, Mrs. Edisua Richard Shaw appealed to FCT Minister, Abuja Environmental Protection Board and other relevant agencies to come to their aid to stop indiscriminate dumping of refuse near houses.
Also speaking, the Village Head of Kapwa Community; Emmanuel Jezhi complained about lack of land for toilet facilities, adding, they have been caught up with development and suggested that FCT provide them with Refuge vans. “We cannot do without dumping refuge on unauthorized sites because we do not have designated places, stressing, there are other tribes that are fond of passing human solid waste on open locations”, he stated.
