Njemanze Refuse Dump: Residents Raise Alarm

Residents of Mile One in the Diobu axis of Port Harcourt and environs  have raised alarm over the stench emanating from refuse being dumped at the Njemanze Waterfront which was demolished by the Rivers State Government in 2007.

A security man who works with The National Newspapers just opposite the Dump site who spoke under the condition of anonymity explained that for a long time the odour from the refuse has caused them a lot of inconveniences and expressed the fear that the outbreak of epidemic was imminent if the situation was not checked.

For workers and commuters who partronise Sam Jaja and Niger Delta Links Transport Services beside the El Shadai Church, “the stench from the site has recently affected our business as most of our passengers have refused to use our buses due to the development”, a loader who gave his name as barikor, said.

According to Napoleon Oyepho who lives at Nsukka street, “sewage operators took advantage of the situation to empty waste at odd hours of the night at the waterfront”.

He said odour was so bad that even if you lock yourself inside your room, “you were not safe”, he complained.

For food vendors around the flyover park the story was the same as investigations by our correspondent showed that business has been low due to the stench from the refuse dump.

“Since this thing started, many people don’t come here again to buy food especially the big men”, lamented Mrs. Umorem Akpan a food vendor.

While wondering when dumping of refuse would at that site, stop she urged the relevant government agency to do something about it. She said even if dumping was stopped, the odour will continue to be there for a long time.

However, spokesman for the Rivers State Envrionmental Sanitation Authority, Mr. Olakekan Ige who spoke with our Correspondent explained that the authority actually mandated some refuse contractors to use the site as a stop gap measure.

He said it was not intended to be a permanent arrangement, rather it was due to challenges faced by the authority especially at Rumuolumeni areas and elsewhere in Port Harcourt as most of the dumps where filled up at the time.

He said the Authority has since stopped using the place adding that the area has been fumigated urging nearby residents to challenge anyone dumping refuse there.