Governor Peter Obi and the quest for waste disposal laws

Posted by admin Articles, Columnists, Emeka Chiakwelu Monday, March 7th, 2011

By Emeka Chiakwelu, NNP, Mar. 7, 2011 – There is a growing awareness and awakening brewing in the consciousness of
Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State with regards to the disposal of waste
and refuse in his state especially in the commercial city of Onitsha. A
while ago Governor Obi during his visit to Onitsha to inspect the drainage
system promised to work with the legislature to enact laws for the
regulation and disposal of trash and solid waste. The governor observed
that occupants and inhabitants of Onitsha continue to dump trash into the
gutters after the trash were removed.

Governor Peter Obi from his perspective was disappointed with the people
that were dumping trash into the drainage system and therefore believed
that making laws will solve the problem. Obi failed to understand that the
people do not have a place to safely dispose the generated trash therefore
they resorted to littering and dumping wastes at the most convenient
place which happened to be the storm water conveyance and gutters. To make
laws is a good thing but it should be the secondary development; for
efficient and concerted collection and disposal of refuse should precede
enacting of laws and regulations.

To achieve a neat ambience with the ditches and gutters free of littering
and debris, a comprehensive solid waste collection and disposal must be in
place. The total and elaborate collection, disposal and the importantly
recycling must be efficiently planned and implemented. The collection and
disposal of solid waste is not a reluctant and once in a while venture. It
is a continuous process that involves the citizenry participation and
administration supervision. One cannot expect the people to store garbage
in their houses when there is no provision of disposal public trash
containers and dumpsters for them to dispose the accumulated refuse.

The governor appears to be in a hurry to fix a problem that cannot be
solved with laws without first of all doing the right thing by setting up
a modern infrastructure and technical-know-how to combat the problem of
littering and trash disposal. The primary action needed to be taken by the
governor is to make sure that trashes are collect frequently at a
stipulated interval with greatest priority to environmentally safe
disposal of the waste.

“Trash receptacles will be strategically placed to ensure that the public
is given ample opportunity to dispose of litter. Messages will be
stenciled on the trash barrels to enlighten the public on how to properly
dispose of litter. This will help to ensure that trash is removed before
runoff; wind or birds move it to the drainage channel. Trash containers
are to be emptied at a minimum of once a week. All collected trash and
debris will to be hauled to an approved landfill by licensed solid waste
disposal vehicles. Vehicles used to haul the debris shall have a sealed
bottom to prevent leaks or seepage, and the trash materials shall be
covered while the load is in transit. All personnel will be instructed the
correct procedure for trash disposal.”
Onitsha for a start must have a modern landfill and storage area that will
consist of a major recycling process and procedure to minimize the
quantity of waste to be stored subsequently in a landfill. A well managed
landfill will guarantee that citizens of Onitsha in particular and Anambra
State in general will not dump their waste in the drainage conveyance and
gutters. A functioning landfill is needed in Onitsha in order to curtail
littering, if not closed the chapter of debris and refuse exposure to
storm water and storm drains.

Awareness and education must be apparent as the building blocks of safe
environment and efficient solid waste disposal in Anambra State and
Nigeria. The citizens must understand the significance of clean
environment, which is to enhance the health well being of the people and
to eliminate both air and water borne diseases.

Governor Obi and Anambra State legislators can enact all the environmental
laws they desire but without infrastructures, best management practice and
environmental awareness the laws will not make any difference.
Emeka Chiakwelu is the Principal Policy Strategist at Afripol. Africa
Political and Economic Strategic Center (Afripol) is foremost a public
policy center whose fundamental objective is to broaden the parameters of
public policy debates in Africa. To advocate, promote and encourage free
enterprise, democracy, sustainable green environment, human rights,
conflict resolutions, transparency and probity in Africa. www.afripol.org
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