In the metropolitan city of Lagos, residents of Akobi Crescent in Surulere have been disturbed and affected by excessive flooding caused by poor drainage systems and improper waste disposal for many years.
During the rainy season, the community is usually flooded with plastic waste that is thrown into the streets by residents. These plastics create a blockage in the canal, causing serious flooding which overflows to the roads making it difficult for people to move around.
Malaria outburst
A source who does not want to be named lamented over the cases of malaria which has generally affected the environment making it difficult for residents to live a healthy life.
The residents expressed concern over the government’s failure in providing means of eradicating the flood in the community.
“My kids and I treat malaria constantly every three months.
“At times when it rains, because the canal is usually blocked with waste, the water overflows.
“Sometimes it overflows into the compound and when water is stagnant, it causes malaria. As a result of that, we treat malaria every three months.”
Another affected resident who spoke to our correspondent, Mrs Remi Adejare, said the neglected canal close to her residential apartment becomes a home for insects carrying parasitic diseases (mosquitoes) which has contributed to the spread of malaria parasites.
Adejare has been living in Akobi Crescent in Surulere at the flood-prone area for over 15 years. “Before subsequent intervention by some of the residents, the flooded canal is usually blocked thereby causing flooding when it rains. At times, it overflows to the main road which causes air pollution and also exposes us to malaria caused by mosquitoes from the canal,” she disclosed.
Intervention and solving the menace
However, this has been reduced with a consistent routine of proper cleaning of the canal mostly every week.
Apart from the plastics clogging the canal, other refuse is also thrown into it creating the same problem.
When asked how she disposed her waste, Adejare said: “Well, I use waste bags which LAWMA picks up every week. For plastics, I keep them aside for reuse or give them out to people that need them. I don’t put plastics in my dustbin. I give it out or put them aside for reuse or I sell them to aboki,” she said.
To curb plastic waste and encourage recycling, a recycling company, Sweep Foundation, moved into the community and has been putting things in place to reduce the occurrence of flooding. The recycling company has reduced the blockage in the canal by retrieving plastics from the street for recycling.
According to one Mr Innocent who is a worker at the recycling hub, part of his job involves going out to collect plastic waste.
“We go house to house to get plastic waste products,” he said.
Innocent, who has been staying in the affected community, emphasised his role in mitigating environmental degradation and contributing to economic growth of the community which triggered his involvement in plastic recycling.
Speaking to journalists, he noted how the company is doing its best to make sure the canal is not blocked again towards the incoming rain.
His words: “We are trying our best. We are in partnership with Lagos Recyclers Association (LAGRA).
“We have been going there to clear the canal of waste before it gets flooded.”
He explained that although the company is trying its best, there are several challenges like the lack of availability of protective materials like gloves, raincoats, rubber boots, nose masks, etc but the company is looking into that.
Innocent also noted that the company involved the community in a house-to-house sensitisation on recycling and how plastics are not waste but a source of wealth creation.
By Samuel Ogunsona, Rahma Jimoh and Akinbo Oluwatomisin. Article written as part of the Young Media for Climate Justice initiative
