By Kemi Olatunde

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Respite came the way of the residents of Imafon and the motorists plying the route when the Ondo State Government closed down the  dump site  as it had become an eyesore to passers-by along the road.

The government had earlier restated its determination to rid the state of debris and dirts that dotted the landscape.

Therefore, it is no longer news that some few days ago, the  State Government ordered the temporary closure of the Igbatoro/Imafon road dump site due to its poor state.

To this end, the state government felt that it was important to ensure that there is effective compliance and this informed a scheduled visit by the Environment Commissioner, Mr. Oyeniyi Oseni who led his team to the site.

On getting to the site, the team was besieged by the heap of waste with a powerful stench in front of the entrance which originally was meant to be a green area.

According to findings, the level of pollutant gases, like carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, particulate matter and methane increases in the air due to fire and various gases produced from the dump site were the main cause of the odour oozing from the dump site.

The team took time to move round the whole place and it could best be described as an eyesore. A particular portion which was meant to be the lawn had been taken over by waste. The hostel in the site is noting to write home about.

The site which is over seven hectares of land as observed by The Hope lacks maintenance culture as there are still enough space inside to accommodate more waste. It was observed that during the rains, trucks that were supposed to enter the site to dump waste do not bother to enter the site but prefer to dump it outside the entrance due to reasons best known to them.

The General Manager, Ondo State Waste Management Authority (OSWMA), Mr. Fola Omowole while taking the Commissioner round, said that there was proper handing over of the site to the contractor in charge, ZL Global Alliance. According to findings, the company is expected to take over, maintain the status of the site and possibly acquire new one in collaboration with OSWMA.

The team left the place with an expression of disappointment as it proceeded to Aponmu proposed sanitary landfill site  expected to be used by the Private Sector Participants (PSPs) for waste deposition.

Speaking with The Hope after the exercise, Oseni stated that several complaints have been lodged by residents living around and those plying the Igbatoro/Imafon road, about the non challant attitude of PSPs to the health of residents of the state by illegally dumping waste outside the facility.

Describing the visit as a confirmation of the order given not quite long to observe the level of compliance, he explained that government will put measures in place to ensure that it becomes functional as expected.

Giving his assessment of the Igbatoro/Imafon road dump site, he said; “I am truly disappointed with what I saw compared to how it was before it was handed over to the management of the place.

“Before government concession of Igbatoro dump site to ZLGA, the place was in good shape and judging from what I saw, I am not impressed.

“We have to put in place a workable model that will allow us have a sustainable use of it.”

Commenting on the Aponmu site, he stressed the need to give immediate attention to it so as not  to go the way of the closed dump site at Imafon road.

It would be recalled that Ondo State Government temporarily shut down Igbatoro/Imafon road dump site due to its poor state and it said that all waste deposition and tipping by the Private Sector Participants (PSPs) in waste collection are to be done at the Aponmu proposed sanitary landfill site.

According to government, the dump site, has been filled up with waste which is being dumped outside of the facility.

 As gathered, several complaints have been lodged by residents living around and who are plying the Igbatoro/Imafon Road, and government had ordered the company in charge of the site, ZL Global Alliance to commence remediation work on the site.

It is important to note that government will consider the option of carrying out a major intervention work at the site before further use is permitted.