Poor Refuse Management
Sir,
To me, one area the Rescue Mission has failed to spark is refuse management. Owerri residents are used to living with decomposing heaps of refuse, sometimes very close to their doorsteps.
The heaps along the major roads and streets stagnate for days at times weeks before the refuse trucks arrive to cart them away. The heaps alongRocye Roadremained uncleared for about three weeks polluting the environment with unbearable odour.
For non – Imolites in transit, Owerri is seriously contesting for a place as the nation’s filth capital. Douglas Roadis one of the most notorious spots where heaps of garbage could be found anytime and any day.
One does not readily understand why the Rescue Mission is not working in this sector. Could it be poor funding or supervision? The contractor handling refuse disposal should not allow the poor performance to dent his image and credibility.
By the way, who is responsible for refuse disposal at local government level? At Irete in Owerri West local government area, the frightening heap at the market along the busy Owerri/Onitsha Expressway is about a month and a half old. Residents have been exposed to serious health harzards resulting from the foul air oozing out from the decomposed heaps. The spot has become home to rodents and other harmful insects like mosquitoes.
I happen to visit one secondary school outside Owerri Metropolis and saw mountains of refuse in the premises. Whose responsibility is it to clear the garbage heaps in secondary and primary schools? Local government authorities should not limit their functions to rate collection and other sundry fees but ensure that educational institutions in their areas are kept neat and clean.
I sincerely appeal to the Rescue Mission to wake up and be more proactive with refuse collection and disposal. Imolites are not dirty people.
Okay Mbah,
Owerri Metropolis
