Onitsha, the commercial hub of Anambra State and its environs have been taken over by refuse heaps threatening to cause epidermic in the area.
The major roads and streets of Onitsha metropolis, neighbouring communities of Nkpor, Obosi and Okpoko suburb were Iittered with heaps of refuse rubbish.
The drainage channels is now an eye sore over the serious blockages with garbages by residents and non waste evacuation and de-silting by concerned authorities.
The worst affected areas in Onitsha included Court Road by Benjamin Street, Oguta Road by Ojedi, Ochanja Market, New Cemetery Road, amongst others.
A resident in Onitsha, Mr Chidi Innocent blamed the people for not obeying simple rules such as proper putting the rubbish in a bag and move same to already established dump sites.
He urged also the local government authorities to be alive to its responsibilities with necessary logistics for refuse evacuation.
However, Chairman of Onitsha North Local Government, Hon. Patrick Agha Mba has planned massive and intensive waste evacuation and de-silting of drainages in the area.
In a statement, Mba said that the work would commence from April 2 to April 4 in Onitsha North, Onitsha South, Ogbaru and Idemili North.
He said that Gov. Chukwuma Soludo had approved a lockdown in the 4 Local Government Areas from 7.00am to 6.00pm daily to guarantee success of the exercise.
“All Stakeholders including leaders of Religious Organizations, Market Organizations,Town Unions,Youth Organizations, Landlord Associations are urged to spread this message among their members,” Mba said.
He implored the citizenry to co-operate with the Government Special Committee led by the Deputy Governor, Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezim by minimizing vehicular movement, dropping their refuse in the receptacles and waste bins and desisting from dropping wastes in drainages.
“They are also encouraged to volunteer their services in any form to enhance the success of the exercise.
“This intensive waste evacuation and de-silting of drainages exercise is imperative to curb the menace and devastation of flood and erosion.
“It is also geared towards preventing health hazards caused by unhygienic environment and poor waste management such as mosquito-induced Malaria, respiratory infections and a host of others,” he said.
The Human Rights, Liberty Access, and Peace Defenders Foundation (HURIDE) has flayed the planned lockdown of Onitsha and environs to allow for the refused evacuation.
The Rights Group Executive Director, Dede Uzor A Uzor said that it would be unnecessary economic waste for the State Government to shut down the entire Onitsha and its environs for four days just because they want to desilt the drainage system and clear refuse in the areas.