The government of Ogun State has issued a stern warning to residents, cautioning them to refrain from disposing of dead babies in public waste bins along major roads.
Addressing the media in Abeokuta, the Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, expressed concern over residents’ misuse of public waste bins in the state capital. He lamented the disturbing trend of dumping dead infants and feces in the bins located along major roads and markets.
Reacting to the prevalent issue of indiscriminate refuse dumping and open defecation on the Panseke pedestrian bridge in Abeokuta, Oresanya disclosed that the government is actively planning measures to secure the bridge from beggars, robbers, and destitute individuals who have taken control of it.
“We put out a giant waste bin along the road going towards the market (Panseke market), we put another smaller one around the place where okada riders are staying so that they can be putting their waste inside it, but every time we go there to clear the wastes, we found out that the bins contain faeces and dead babies.
“When their children die, they don’t bury them, they will just dump them in the bins. There is a major social problem in that area that needs special attention and we are looking at it holistically,” Oresanya said.
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Highlighting a significant social issue in the area that requires special attention, the commissioner emphasized the need for a holistic approach to address the problem.
Discussing the deteriorating condition of the pedestrian bridge, Oresanya explained, “The bridge was constructed to facilitate pedestrian crossing, but currently, only a few can utilize it. Individuals with mobility challenges, including those in wheelchairs, face difficulty crossing the bridge. We are actively working on finding alternatives for them.”
To tackle the issues of destitute individuals taking over the bridge at night, engaging in criminal activities, and defecating on the structure, Oresanya outlined plans to install gates that would restrict access after 6 pm. This measure aims to improve the safety and usability of the bridge while addressing the challenges posed by destitute populations in the area.
