By Kemi Olatunde

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The popular Sango cow market along  Igoba Road, Akure  is always sought after and busy on most days  as great number  of people walk into the butcher to buy the desired amount of beef they need at their convenience. It is a busy hub where cows are sold or in parts, depending  on customer’s  prefence. After buying,  they leave  to their comfort zone to devour it alongside sumptuous dishes. After their departure, residents of the area are left to bear the brunt of the filth from the remains  of the slaughtered cows, as the stench takes over the air.

The abattoir was put in place to ensure hygienic processing of slaughtered cows. However, the cow market place which had been favoured and improved upon by  successive governments is not having a best of time at the moment as residents and the Ondo state government frowned  at the dirty environment brought about by  poor handling.  To say it is fast  becoming an eyesore is not far from the truth. Just a drive into the entrance, one is besieged by the illegal heap of dump stationed immediately after the drainage at the right hand side of the entrance.  In fact, the dump is adjacent a local canteen where people gather to have their stomach filled up.

Inside the drainage on the left side of the entrance road is a large volume of liquid waste from the abattoir which has become stagnant due to obstruction of flow, hence,  presenting a habitation for mosquitoes and other diseases causing insects.

Taking a walk through the gate to some parts of the abattoir, one will be confronted  by the liquid waste which has  become glued to the tarred road within the vicinity.

General Manager, Ondo State Waste Management Authority, Mr. Fola Omowole led a team to the area an inspector  recently in order to bring sanity to it.  It was discovered that the Sango cow market  apart from the whole area  was also in a bad state as dirt dot every nook and cranny. This contributed to the stench from the abattoir which  polluted  the environment.

The cow dung which should be properly put into use is displayed in an unacceptable manner. Experts from the  agency noted that the cow dung could have been used to generate energy that could be used for electricity. Omowole observed that  the whole place  was in dire straits right under the nose of the management but not so much was  done to correct this ill.

Immediate residents are not the only victims, but also those in some parts of Igoba and Sasha community as a stream which connects these communities is polluted with waste from the abattoir.

On this note, residents of the area have called the appropriate authority to come to their rescue. 

Omowole while berating the staff over the  sanitation situation of the facility noted that it is unacceptable to have the waste water flushed into the drainage.

While challenging one of the staff, Mr Musa Akanni, he noted that it is important that the facility put in place waste water treatment area for the benefit of residents around it.

Akanni while speaking said that the facility has been doing its best to maintain clean environment despite the numerous challenges confronting it and promised to improve its activities in this regard.

He revealed that the place is being managed by a private  Enterprise adding that numerous challenges are confronting the organisation including water and lack of vehicle to evacuate the liquid waste.helps us evacuate the blood water is not in a good condition as the owner said the waste has damaged the vehicle but we are working on other alternatives. Also, we don’t have enough water to maintain the place,  as most times  we get  water from  companies.

The General Manager who  was displeased with  the  dirty environment of the facility stressed the need for the management brace up in ensuring that it wears a neat look.

At the cattle market, Omowole called on the leaders to put the place in a  better shape in terms of cleanliness stating that it is against the wish of government to see it in a deplorable  condition.

According to him, it can be managed  in a better way to embrace cleanliness calling on leaders to maintain clean environment.

Chairman, Sango Yoruba traders, Alh. Ibrahim Saadu called on government to help in evacuating the illegal dump site in the community in order to prevent pollution and diseases’ outbreak in the state.

His words; “The place we are using is filled up and that is why we are appealing to government to help us evacuate it so that it can give the community a neat look.”

Omowole in a brief interview, assured of government’s  intervention in proffering solutions to the waste management system within the abattoir and called on residents to have the right attitude to the environment in order to avert environmental challenges.

The team also visited Ogo Oluwa community, Araromi, Igoba where pollution from abattoir waste water was noticeable and the authority advised that the  leaders should  forward their complaints to relevant authorities for appropriate solution.

Some residents who spoke on condition of anonymity stressed the need for government to take urgent step in addressing the issue in order to safeguard their lives.

One of them said; “we are just trying to cope with the situation. Most of us around here cannot open our windows to enjoy fresh air. Our houses are no longer occupied by tenants. Government should proffer solution to it on time.”

Air pollution refers to the release of pollutants into the air, pollutants which are detrimental to human health and the planet as a whole. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), each year air pollution is responsible for nearly seven million deaths around the globe. Nine out of ten human beings currently breathe air that exceeds the WHO’s guideline limits for pollutants, with those living in low- and middle-income countries suffering the most.

Exposure to high levels of air pollution can cause a variety of adverse health outcomes. It increases the risk of respiratory infections, heart disease and lung cancer.  Both short and long term exposure to air pollutants have been associated with health impacts. More severe impacts affect people who are already ill. Children, the elderly and poor people are more susceptible.

Long-term health effects from air pollution include heart disease, lung cancer, and respiratory diseases such as emphysema. Air pollution can also cause long-term damage to people’s nerves, brain, kidneys, liver, and other organs.

Bearing the effects of air pollutants in mind, government put in place the necessary measures while setting up the Sango abattoir to ensure the safety of residents of that vicinityHowever, the expectation of the state governments seemed to be  unmet as the management has not done well in this regard.