Pollution is a major problem in many cities around our world today, but its effects are more severe specifically in large population cities, for instance, Lagos State, Nigeria, where I reside. Lagos City is known as the largest city in West Africa and is highly populated. Here in Lagos, there are many things that cause pollution, which affects both lives and our environment. According to TVC News Live I listened to the other time, up to thirty thousand people die yearly in Lagos due to pollution. I also read somewhere that Lagos State is the second-most polluted city in Africa. It's that bad, and unfortunately, control measures haven't been strong enough in different localities of Lagos.
One major cause of pollution in my own area is improper waste disposal. Even though the waste management issues have been partially arrested, we still see people messing up the environment with their waste and polluting the environment.
Remember, when waste is not properly disposed of, it could contaminate the water, the soil, and the air and definitely lead to both environmental and health issues with the residents of such a locality.
Before now, we had issues with the services of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA). They are meant to reach all the localities in Lagos to pack the waste on a weekly basis. Later on, weeks turn into one month and then into three months, and you wouldn't see these people with their big vehicles to pack the wastes. Most of us in the community have to go private instead of living with waste, inhaling the bad odor. The waste, when left for a long time, also attracts rats, and these are not a healthy lifestyle in any way.
However, some people, instead of finding solutions to the problem, will come out at night and dump the garbage wherever it pleases them on the public road.
It became a concern because one can hardly pass without throwing up spit. Personally, I once vomited upon inhaling such a terrible bad odor. My kids have suffered from a catarrh due to the same mess. Sometimes, the infections I treat them for, who knows whether they came from the same source? Honestly, it was bad, but in our community group, the issue was raised, and while everyone paid for road sanitation first to clear the mess, a plan was made to report the issue to IBEJU LEKKI LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUNCIL.
At times, it's vital to express a particular concern with the government; sometimes they attend to issues urgently. I really don't know whether the tricycle, which was now made available to be carrying waste daily, was already in progress at the local government level as at the time of our complaints, but it wasn't up to two weeks after we laid a complaint about the dirty environment we were having due to improper waste management, and many tricycles were provided in our community.
Nowadays, these tricycles come in daily in search of waste to pack and dispose of them appropriately but with a cost. One full nylon of waste cost #800. I think it's okay; I don't mind paying that and maintaining a healthy environment to avoid cholera, diarrhea, infections, and other diseases associated with living with waste.
However, some persons have refused to pay, and what they do is throw in their waste in a nearby undeveloped land; some threw theirs in a canal near us. I am wondering what can be done for humans to be really satisfied.
From the above discussion, you could see how the waste management issues have so far been tackled, but yet, some Judases amongst us in our community wouldn't stick with the rules but still choose to dispose of their waste improperly, and to some extent, their actions still affect lives and the environment.
Overall, if strict measures are implemented, like placing a fine on defaulters, then I see this particular cause of pollution in my area ending soon.
This is my response to the #HiveLearners community contest on the topic titled, Cause of Pollution.
Images are mine.
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But what stops the LAWMA from coming to your area? They stopped coming to mine because according to them the road was too bad, but I believe it's just petty excuse. Now we use private waste management. Although I live in the suburbs of Lagos, people are irresponsible with waste management.
In the house I lived before my present house, there was this woman who threw the faces of her children into the waste bin rather than into their toilet.
The LAWMA guy said their vehicle is always breaking down.. sometimes, he complains about fuel... just nonsense excuses... government property oo, still, they will complain of everything
Just imagine the mess that woman was doing. Like people don't know the implications of their actions or they choose to be lazy and selfish?
Even in Ghana people wait till midnight and come out to dump their refuse along the streets. And the funny part is that the government has people who collect refuse every week at a small fee. But our people don’t want to pay.
Can you just imagine... human beings will always be humans
I think we always need strong hands to thrive in the society..lol
I hope we change for the better.
Hmmmm! This is actually a general problem. People coming out in the middle of the night to throw their waste is what we also go though in our side. The whole place is bad and we have adjusted our minds to live with it like that.
Thanks for sharing
Hahaha... you guys want to live with it like that? That's not healthy
My dear, we don't know what else to do
Humans can never be satisfied my sister. Even if you devise means to curb some issues, even when they know it would benefit them, they still would not appreciate it. So wicked. Lol
I love the idea of the tricycles coming to pack those waste.
The last time I went to Ibadan, omo, I went with my friend to get something across the street, I couldn't pass this particular spot and I could see people selling different kind of things. The gutter was so stinking that I almost throw up but had to endure till we left that scene. I wonder how those people cope sitting down there all day.
Imagine selling edibles near such mess...that's disgusting I must say
Nawaoo ...I really hope people would start being intentional about health matters
Some people will be willing to go to any length to avoid paying bills. As long as it's optional, many people will rather litter the streets than pay for their trash to be thrown off. That's why I prefer the days of LAWMA when they billed the houses. That way, you couldn't dare default on payment or they would lock up your house.