Roadsides turn garbage dumps in Abeokuta over lack of trash bins, irregular waste evacuation

By Damilare Adeleye

Sulaiman Akanni, a dark skin middle class man, who lives in Mile 12 Area of Abeokuta, was taking his brother-in-law in his car to Lafenwa on May 22, 2025. However, he had some garbage in his vehicle, hoping to dispose of it as soon as he could find a public container along the road. But, all his hopes were dashed as none was sighted. He wanted to throw the garbage out of the car to an open area along the road, but was resisted by conscience. He later disposed of the waste at the bushy backyard of his brother-in-law’s house.

“He just dumped it here that day,” the brother-in-law recounted, pointing to a space behind his house where refuse was often burnt to ashes with fire.

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But, not every one was like Mr. Akanni. While he was deterred by conscience, others would feel no guilt when disposing their waste indiscriminately along public roads. Their actions have turned the capital city into an eyesore for visitors and many other residents in Abeokuta— both in the South and the North.

As the state capital of Ogun State in southwest Nigeria, Abeokuta is a rocky ancient town with a population of over 607,580 people as of 2025 data. Aside from serving as the seat of power for the state government, many historical and tourist sites like Olumo Rock Tourist Centre, Alake Palace Ground, Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Kuti Heritage Museum, among others are located in various areas of the city.

Indiscriminate Waste Disposal: The Woes

Despite its administrative status, indiscriminate waste disposal has become prevalent among the residents in Abeokuta. When The Nigerian Voice reporter visited the city, nearly all roadsides were littered with refuse. Many streets were covered with decaying heaps of junks. The markets oozed out stench due to filthy garbage mounted in open spaces. While it was gathered that government provided a dumpster for each major market to keep and store their wastes, most of the large containers were excessively overfilled with large chunks of debris scattered around the place, suggesting that it could have be a long time since the state waste management agency had come to evacuate the trash.

A phone charger in Kuto Market, Akinwande Simon, lamented that the unevacuated dumpster in front of his shop, noting that the stinking situation was becoming unbearable.

“I have been here for three years. It’s was any brother that was using here before I came to the market. The waste disposal here is not good at all. The thing affects us a lot. Some time the people responsible for collecting it may not even come for a month to evacuate. So, it smells. Most people body systems do not actually go well with the bad odour. Most times, if the smell starts, I have to leave here and go to somewhere else. Had it been you were here on Monday, you too would not be able to stay there for long.”

He further revealed that the waste management agency personnel were no longer effective as before.

“The people used to come and pack the refuse within three days, but it’s not longer like that. During the sports festival at the stadium, they used to come almost everyday, but since they finished the games, we don’t see them often. Before, the truck would come to carry the entire trash bin to dispose of it, and return it empty. But now, when the truck comes they just scrape it and leave the rest.”

Another trader in Kuto Market, Abiodun Oredola, also decried the situation, disclosing that residents even some from far areas rely one just one dumpster in the market.

He said, “Right from onset, probably 2007, it was during the tenure of Amosun that this trash was given to the market. During that period, the government came on daily basis to come and evacuate the refuse. But since two year ago, things have changed. We heard that some of workers are on strike that was why we are not seeing them for a while now. The mobile trucks often come to evacuate the waste surrounding the container.

“When this thing is left unevacuated, the odour is very offensive. It’s not everyone that can endure the smell. Some people do not come to the market because of it. This morning, I heard that they’re coming to scrape part of the refuse, but that won’t stop the odour. I can tell you that people come all the way from Oke Mosan, Housing Estate, Leme, Obasanjo Hilton to come and dump their waste here in Kuto.”

Speaking in Yoruba language with our reporter, a female trader in Lafenwa Market, Mrs Olufunsho Ashade, also corroborated that the waste management workers engaged in partially emptying the dumpster.

“Though this place is smelling, but we don’t have anywhere else to go. This is an open space. When the container is filled up, and we call the waste collectors. If their truck is not faulty, the personnel would come on time to evacuate it.

“The only reason this is over-filled and the people have not come around, is because as were told the truck is faulty. If they come, they clean off this place and evacuate the surrounding of the container. Although the refuse in the container will be left behind,” she stated.

An Abeokuta resident living in Rounda, Mrs- Agboola Mariam, pointed out likely health hazard that could emanate from indiscriminate disposal of waste.

“If we have large wastes in our markets rodents will come there. When they come there, they will move out of that place to another place let say where food items are stored. These rodents have saliva and spit on food. After spitting on the food, and you go there, you buy, you eat, from there you can contact air borne disease and water borne disease leading to cholera, typhoid and others.”

OGWAMA Staff Blame Residents

Some workers of Ogun State Waste Management Authority (OGWAMA) attributed the filthy display of wastes along the roads to residents’ uncleanliness.

One of the sweepers at Itokoro junction, who did not want to be mentioned in this report, asserted that she often took the task upon her to discourage people from indiscriminate disposal of wastes.

“Look at that place, you will see wastes everywhere. It has been seven years I have been doing this work. I’m working for the government. The indiscriminate waste disposal is actually a serious issue because it makes our work hard,” she said.

“Some of us go from here to Lafenwa, Itoku to go and clean up the road. Some people eat from their vehicles and throw the wastes along the road. In the morning when I see those people, I usually give some facial expressions to reprimand them against such practice. At times when I seen people dumping their waste anyhow, I tell them to pack it properly and dispose of it appropriately.“

An enforcement officer at Itokoro also pointed out government’s efforts to make the city clean, adding that it was the people who continued to desecrate the environment.

In his words, “Look at that place, people used to dump waste there. When the government considered it inappropriate, I was employed to monitor this area. Look at those women. They’re busy sweeping. But some people will still come especially those in vehicles and litter the road with refuse they’re bringing from their homes. The government is trying. But the people and not being responsible. Thanks to the weeky environment sanitation, otherwise some people’s homes would be really dirty. There is a container there, but some people won’t go there, they rather throw their waste in the gutter or by the roadside.

“The people are the ones at default. But the government can do is to educate them through sensitisation about the danger of such practice. Before, people wouldn’t have opportunity to eat outside because of cholera, but it’s better now.”

The Demand For More Dumpsters

Residents who spoke with The Nigerian Voice appealed to the state government to provide more dumpsters in strategic areas in the capital city.

“Though the government had warned people not to dump the waste indiscriminately especially when the container is filled up, but some people don’t listen, they still dump it anyhow,” Mr Simon told our reporter.

“I will appeal to the government to do more. The agency should tell the workers to come and pack the refuse regularly. Before, we had three dumpsters along this road, but only just one was left, the remaining two had been taken away by the government. Maybe due to lack of capacity. Most importantly, they should provide one more dumpster. Before, there was enforcement against the practice. We used to see law enforcement officers arresting people dumping the waste illegally, but not any longer,” he added.

On his part, Mr Oredola also tasked government not only to make more dumpsters available to public, but also promptly come to evacuate it.

“There is not enough of this container,” he said pointing to the overfilled garbage container in Kuto Market.

“You will find them only in market places. Government should provide more and make sure they solidly cement the place they want to station the containers. They should come on daily basis too to quickly evacuate the dirty items in them. This will minimise and reduce the odour,” he added.

“We only have one container in Lafenwa Market. This one is what everybody is relying on for their refuse. People from Rounda, and environs come here too to dispose of their wastes. The government should provide more of this container and station them in strategic places. I think that is all we need,” Mrs Olufunsho Ashade, another trader in Lafenwa Market submitted.

On her part, Mrs Agboola Mariam, also emphasized that the government bears the responsible of ensuring clean environment by providing waste bins for the residents.

“On a neutral level, the problem is from the government. Every Thursday, all the markets in the state do sanitation. But the problem is after the market sanitation. When the traders do the sanitation and gather the refuse, where will they keep it? The refuse will be there for weeks, nobody will come to evacuate it. That is where the problem lies.

“If the government does its part, the communities will do theirs. If you continue to tell me that I should not put a paper somewhere, you have to show me where I will keep it. If you provide a space I can keep it, I will definitely take my wastes there. But, when you say I should not put paper here, and still refuse to provide any alternative, your word is just futile.

“I will suggest the government at least, use the money they collect from the traders to buy a truck that will be stationed at each market when they open. They should tell the people to tie their waste and drop it in the standby truck and the driver takes everything away and then return in the following morning to continue the routine, everywhere will be clean.”

Public Heath Officer Weighs In

A public health officer at the 35 Artillery Brigade, Alamala Barracks in Abeokuta, Corporal Idris, spoke at length about the some of the effects of indiscriminate disposal of wastes.

“Indiscriminate waste disposal can lead to contamination of underground water. It attracts rodents and flies,” he said, adding that, “If there is any indiscriminate waste disposal in any place, you will notice different types of rats. When these rodents come to the place and still go to have contact with food items in markets or households, they will pollute water and conterminate the food. You as human are likely to be infested with a disease when you consume such food. It also causes air pollution. It affects the air human beings inhaling. When inhaling polluted air, it can cause harms to the people around there. There are also airborne and waterborne diseases. All these usually come from indiscriminate waste disposal.”

The health officer further advised the government to engage more with private sector in order to effectively tackle the menace of illegal waste disposal.

“If the government has enough capacity to handle the situation, they should curtail indiscriminate waste disposal. If it does not have capacity, it can partner with NGO (non-governmental organizations) or private sector to curb the menace effectively,” he stated.

“Government should provide large containers (dumpsters) so that the refuse will not be scattered everywhere. This will help a lot

“They have to regularly meet the leaders of the market to discuss the effects and disadvantage of indiscriminate waste disposal with them. They also can interact with members of the market on the effects as well. Educate the people individually. There are some people if you tell them in public they won’t understand, but if you meet them, and tell them they will understand. Talk to them friendly how they should handle their wastes.”

OGWAMA Gets N11.4 Billion In Three Years

OGWAMA, founded by the state government in October 2019, was saddled with the sole responsibilities of managing waste across the state.

It was gathered that the agency received it sum of Eleven billion four hundred sixty-one million five hundred ninety-five thousand one hundred sixty-six naira (11,461,595,166) between 2023, 2024 and 2025 as total expenditure.

In 2023 and 2024 it got N636,754,565, and 3,815,311,216 respectively, while 7,009,529,385 was approved as its total expenditure for 2025.

The breakdown of 2025 budget follows this: 297,380,945 as personnel expenditure, 5,235,390,058 as recurrent expenditure and 1,467,758,381 as capital expenditure.

Despite its budgetary allocation, the agency seems to be underperforming in its mandate.

Efforts made by our reporter to get clarification on various issues from the agency were futile as correspondences sent to its three publicly available email addresses were not responded to as at the time of filing this report. For context, the emails were sent and delivered on August 25 and 26, 2025.