Tension mounts over Ogun market dumpsite evacuation delay

Tension flared at the Ifo Local Government Secretariat on Wednesday as angry residents rejected assurances by the council chairman, Mr Olamilekan Kushimo, that the evacuation of a controversial dumpsite in the area would take time, insisting that urgent action was needed to avert a public health crisis.

The protesters, carrying placards with various inscriptions, marched from the NNPC filling station to the council secretariat, briefly disrupting traffic on the old Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.

Residents said the dumpsite had become a major health hazard and had contributed to the deterioration of the only access road linking the expressway to more than 80 communities and villages in the area.

Speaking before the protest commenced, the head of the butchers’ association in Ifo, Tajudeen Gbogbolebu, appealed to the government to intervene.

“This place is not good. If the government can fix this dumpsite, more people will come and buy the meat we sell. We need the government to come and help us here,” he said.

Addressing the protesters at the secretariat, the Chairman of Ifo Local Government, Olamilekan Kushimo, acknowledged residents’ concerns and said efforts had been made to clear the site.

“As the Executive Chairman of Ifo Local Government, I am not happy to see that place in its current state. We have visited the area several times and even brought equipment for inspection,” he said.

Kushimo explained that the major challenge had been finding a suitable location to relocate the waste.

“We have engaged the state government and officials of OGWAMA on the issue. The problem is where to move the waste to. Suggestions that it should be dumped in a canal were rejected because that could create another health crisis and block waterways.

“We have identified alternative locations, but the host communities rejected the proposal. Government is already working on the issue, but it is a process that requires approvals, meetings and consultations with affected communities,” he added.

However, the chairman’s explanation did not go down well with many protesters.

Tension rose when he suggested that the process could take months before the dumpsite was fully evacuated, prompting angry reactions from the crowd, who accused him of lacking urgency and concern for residents’ welfare.

The situation became more heated after some protesters alleged that the chairman made dismissive facial gestures while addressing them.

The crowd grew further agitated when Kushimo invited PUNCH Metro, along with other members of the press, to come to his office for an interview.

To avoid any perception of bias, PUNCH Metro insisted that any further interview with the chairman be conducted publicly.

However, the chairman did not return to address the crowd before PUNCH Metro left the venue.

Meanwhile, a pastor and convener of the Make Ogun State Great Again Movement, Olawoye Kayode, described the chairman’s response as disappointing.

“We have suffered from political leaders who come into office and leave without making any meaningful impact. That dumpsite has been there for more than 35 years. Over time, the population around it increased, but successive governments failed to address the problem,” he said.

According to him, the dumpsite has become both an environmental and public health threat.

“The dumpsite has encroached on the road, causing serious damage. It is also located directly beside the market where food items are sold. We are worried about the possibility of a cholera outbreak and other health risks. We want the government to help us evacuate it,” he added.

Kayode said residents were particularly disappointed because they had previously met with the Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, who assured them that action would be taken.

“The commissioner told us the evacuation could be completed within 12 days and that discussions had already been held with contractors. We came to the local government chairman expecting reassurance, but instead he told us it could take months and gave no clear timeline,” he said.

Another protester, Oluwashola Busayo, said residents had exhausted every available channel in seeking government intervention.

“We have spent our money and written several letters to the chairman and the Ogun State Government, but nothing has changed. We do not want diseases such as cholera to affect our people.

“We are disappointed by the way the chairman addressed us. We believe that if the local government collaborates with the state government, the dumpsite can be cleared without difficulty,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Environment, Oresanya, had earlier assured residents in a separate exclusive interview with PUNCH Metro that the government was already working towards relocating the dumpsite.