Kano state, one of Nigeria’s most populous states, is currently grappling with a severe waste disposal crisis.
Uncontrolled waste dumping sites have proliferated both in the metropolis and its outskirts, causing significant environmental and public health concerns.
In this article, Daily News 24‘s Shaibatu Inuwa reports on the situation and explores the efforts being made to tackle this pressing issue in Kano State.
The Urgent Need for Waste Management Solutions
Waste disposal has emerged as a critical challenge for Kano state, requiring immediate attention.
Overflowing refuse, uncollected waste, and inadequate disposal facilities have pushed the community to the brink.
The dire consequences of these issues highlight the urgency for effective waste management solutions.
Government Initiatives for Waste Evacuations
Aware of the gravity of the situation, Kano state governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, vowed to prioritize waste disposal.
The Kano Refuse Management And Sanitation Board (REMASAB), responsible for refuse management, launched various waste evacuation activities across key markets in Kano.
Noteworthy places that benefitted from these evacuations include the prominent Singa market and Ibrahim Taiwo Road, opposite Guest Inn, among others.
Lingering Challenges in Waste Disposal
Despite the commendable efforts made by the authorities, Daily News 24 discovered some areas within the state where refuse poses a significant environmental challenge.
Waste is being dumped indiscriminately along roadsides, as people struggle to find appropriate waste disposal sites.
The limited or inadequate existing sites fail to meet the demands of the waste generated daily by households.
In the absence of designated waste disposal sites, communities resort to unauthorized waste dumping to address their needs.
Motorist Haris Kata mentioned that people from various locations, such as Kwanar Ganduje, Kuntau, and Dorayi, gather to indiscriminately dump trash at non-designated sites.
“This place as you see is not a waste dumping site, however, people every day keep coming from all directions to dump their garbage here because they have no place to dispose apart from this place.” He said.
Repercussions Of The Crisis
Illegal waste dumping frequently leads to road blockages and flooding when it rains.
In Gwale local government, a demolished building has been converted into an unlawful dumping site due to the unavailability of an official waste disposal facility.
Ahmad Ismail, who operates a lubricating oil business nearby, highlights the urgent need for official waste disposal sites in Gwale, as the unauthorized dumping causes strife within the community.
“They are used to coming to dump Waste material here in the night when we retire from our busillnesses when no one sees them.
“We plead to the state government to provide available waste disposal sites in Gwale local government.
“Wallahi we are always fighting with people when they come here to dump garbage. We even get tired and leave them because we are not authority our own is only to talk and call the concerned authority to do the needful” He added.
The Call for Immediate Government Action
Local residents, faced with the daily challenges of unauthorized waste dumping, appeal to the state government for immediate action.
They urge the authorities to provide designated waste disposal sites in Gwale and emphasize the need for their involvement in ensuring the community remains clean and free from such environmental hazards.
Efforts were made to contact Managing Director of REMASAB, Haruna Zago to react on the escalating waste disposal crisis in Kano. Unfortunately, multiple attempts to reach him were unsuccessful.
