RELOCATE THE DUMP SITE ALONG UYO VILLAGE ROAD - Hon (Barr) Otobong Bob

The member representing Nsit Ubium State Constituency in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Hon (Barr) Otobong E. Bob, has called for the relocation of the dump site along Uyo Village Road in view of the health hazard it poses to residents of Uyo metropolis.

In a motion brought before the House today, Thursday January 23, 2020, the Chairman of the House Committee on Rules, Business, Ethics and Privileges noted that global best practices and environmental experts recommend that landfills/dump sites should be located far away from city centres and residential areas and that dump sites should be lined and walled to prevent leakage into the soil, sources of water and air.

Hon (Barr) Bob in the motion brought pursuant to Order 111 Rule 1 of the Standing Orders of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Sixth Edition informed his colleagues that the dump site in reference violated all the above mentioned requirements.

He pointed out that all categories of waste are dumped at the site without control adding that these include organic, solid, semi solid, decomposed matter hospital waste and more.

The Nsit Ubium representative said that the site oozes out putrid stench which pollutes the air around its environs including Government House, Uyo Local Government Council Secretariat, the Judiciary Headquarters, High Courts in the neighborhood, the 'A' Division of the Nigerian Police Force and other such facilities within Wellington Bassey Way and the adjoining streets.

He observed that rain water washes the dump site down into the stream, a source of drinking water flowing down from the ravine to Nduetong village and surrounding communities.

Hon (Barr) Otobong Bob posited that the dump site is a nuisance, an eyesore, a social embarrassment and defiles the aesthetics of the state capital.

He submitted that there is the need to engage the services of experts to manage wastes in partnership with the agency established for that purpose in line with global best practices, a situation which could turn waste to economic gain and income/employment generating venture.

Hon (Barr) Bob prayed the state Governor to order the immediate removal and relocation of the dump site from Uyo Village Road and that the Akwa Ibom State Government should engage the services of waste management experts to manage waste in Uyo and other urban centres in the state in partnership with the state government under a memorandum of understanding and under the supervision of a relevant body set up for that purpose.

The Speaker referred the motion to the House Committee on Environment and Natural Resources and to report back in one month.