By Kamsi Anayo
Residents of Adirika and Isionye Streets, Odume Layout, Obosi in the Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra state recently embarked on a one-day protest over the recurrence of cholera in the area.
The epidemic which was said to have broken in the area in 2022 was explained to have occurred as a result of unevacuated refuse heaps.
The Network gathered that the refuse heaps have pilled up in the area for several months.
In the course of their protest, the residents blamed the state government for its inability to sanction erring refuse contractors who they said had been lax in their contractual obligations.
Although they appealed to the state and federal governments to assist them to contain the fast spreading sickness, they also accused the state government and its team of contractors for the outbreak.
Addressing journalists during the protest, the spokesperson and Chairman of the residents, Mr Vincent Ezemba, regretted what he described as the continual increase of the size of the refuse sites in the area.
He regretted that even as the refuse managers were ineffective in the discharge of the duties, the residents, nevertheless, had been up to date in the payment of their taxes and sanitation levies.
Also speaking, a famale resident, Mrs Ifeoma Ejiofor, lamented that the dangerous odour from the refuse site was directly responsible for various health challenges in the area in recent times.
According to her, many children and adults in the locality are admitted in hospitals within almost on daily basis.
She also called on the state government and the concerned contractors to urgently give them the needed attention to prevent the epidemic from engulfing the area and its neighbouring communities.
Ejiofor lamented that the major road leading to the area had been completely blocked by the refuse heap.
She said that the refuse site located close to a kindergarten school, could engender serious danger to the kids and staff.
In the same vein, another resident, Mr Innocent Igwe, told newsmen that the contractors were preventing them for the payment of two years arrears for refuse collection.
She said that the refuse, according to him, has been there for more than three years.
He vowed that until the illegal dumping site was cleared the residents would not make any payment.
Igwe appealed to the state government and the refuse contractors to urgently evacuate the refuse before they would stage another protest.
Responding to the allegations, one of the contractors, Prince Okechukwu Nkwoka, admitted that the refuse had been there for years.
However, he explained that the refuse heaps had piled long before they were given the contract.
Igwe noted that the site situated was between Isionye and Adirika Street which according to him, ought to have been evacuated by two contractors, Odume Central and Chinedu Landlord Association.
Nkwoka confessed that the site was bigger than his company could singlehandedly manage, pointing out that it needed the collective efforts of the residents, state government and contractors in-charge of the area.
He further claimed that he was given the contract in April, 2023 and denied ever asking the residents to pay two years arreers.
Nkwoka called for a tripartite discussion among the residents, the state government and the concerned contractors.
He noted that until such roundtable talk was held, it would be nearly impossible to solve the refuse dump issue in the area.
