A Lokoja resident has urged the Kogi State government to take immediate action to clear refuse heaps along major roads and public spaces in the metropolis.

Enejoh Musa made the call on Thursday in Lokoja, citing indiscriminate waste disposal and inadequate disposal facilities.

Mr Musa identified Lokongoma Road, 200 Units Housing Road and Gadumo-Aniebo Quarters Road as areas affected by indiscriminate refuse disposal.

He said road medians and other public spaces had, in some areas, become makeshift refuse disposal points, requiring urgent intervention by relevant authorities.

Mr Musa attributed the situation partly to inadequate government-designated dumpsites, especially in densely populated neighbourhoods.

He urged the Ministry of Environment and Ecological Management and the Sanitation and Waste Management Board to immediately clear existing refuse heaps and provide accessible disposal facilities across the metropolis.

He also called for increased surveillance and enforcement of environmental regulations, with offenders sanctioned under existing laws.

Mr Musa said enforcement should be complemented by sustained public enlightenment on proper waste disposal and environmental sanitation.

He urged the government to intensify sensitisation while appealing to residents to cooperate with relevant authorities by disposing of waste responsibly.

He said effective waste management required prompt evacuation of refuse, adequate disposal facilities, public awareness and consistent enforcement of environmental regulations.

In February 2024, the Kogi government said the temporary dumpsite at Felele, Lokoja, was expanding towards the road and required intervention to improve waste management.

The state government subsequently worked with the National Water Resources Institute to assess the suitability of dumpsite locations in Lokoja, including their environmental and public health implications.

The Kogi State Development Plan 2024–2056 identifies insufficient waste disposal and processing facilities as a challenge and notes indiscriminate disposal in built-up areas, drains, uncompleted buildings and open spaces.

The state’s environmental strategy had also set a target of 30 per cent control of indiscriminate waste dumping and 30 per cent waste evacuation, underscoring the need for sustained action on waste management in the state. 

(NAN)