Public health fears are mounting across Lagos as operational challenges at the *Olusosun dumpsite* leave heaps of refuse uncollected across communities, raising fears of a possible epidemic.
With the country still battling Lassa fever, the growing mountains of waste have become breeding grounds for rats, flies, mosquitoes, and other disease-carrying vectors, heightening the risk of disease outbreaks.
“A Ticking Public Health Time Bomb”
For 41-year-old nurse, Ify Chidiebere, the towering heaps of uncollected refuse littering Adelaja Close in Mafoloku, Oshodi, are more than an eyesore. To her, they are a public health emergency waiting to happen.
“Each day, I walk past overflowing waste bins and mounds of decomposing garbage. The refuse is left unattended for days, sometimes weeks, and whenever it rains, dirty water from the waste flows into drains and surrounding areas.”
“This increases the risk of diseases such as *cholera, typhoid fever and diarrhoea*. Mosquitoes also breed in the stagnant water around these refuse dumps, raising concerns about *malaria* and other mosquito-borne diseases.”
Chidiebere said the uncollected refuse has clogged drainage channels, worsening flooding whenever heavy rain falls.
“I’m worried that children playing near these refuse dumps could be exposed to harmful bacteria and disease-causing organisms, leaving their parents to spend scarce money on treatment instead of food and other necessities.”
Residents say they have repeatedly appealed to *LAWMA* and *PSP operators*, but all they have received are promises.
*”Everywhere Smells”: Residents Cry Out*
About 20 kilometres away in *Agulajika Street, Ijesha*, *54-year-old businessman Bernard Johnson* shares the same fear.
“The volume of refuse being generated continues to increase, but there has been no matching effort to remove it in recent times. Everywhere smells,” he said.
He warned that persistent delays have turned the community into an eyesore and heightened fears of disease outbreaks and flooding.
Johnson also expressed concern that residents had begun disposing of faecal waste at some refuse dumps because of the worsening sanitation crisis.
*Landfill Crisis At Olusosun*
At the heart of the crisis is the *Olusosun landfill in Ojota*. Ageing equipment, frequent machinery failures and badly deteriorated access roads have slowed waste disposal operations.
Hundreds of compactor trucks are stranded, unable to discharge their loads. The disruption has created a backlog, resulting in mountains of garbage accumulating in *Lawanson, Oshodi, Ijesha, Festac, Mushin, Idumota* and other areas.
A compactor truck driver, *Sodiq*, said: “Several trucks are unable to discharge their waste because of flooding and the bad roads within the site. As long as there is a queue at the dumpsite and trucks cannot offload, there won’t be enough vehicles available to collect fresh refuse from communities.”
*Lassa Fever Fears As Rodents Thrive*
Epidemiologists warn the situation is particularly alarming as *Lassa fever* continues to spread across *23 states* and *114 LGAs* nationwide.
According to the *NCDC’s Epidemiological Week 28 Situation Report*, confirmed cases rose from 14 in Week 27 to 25 in Week 28. *229 deaths* have been reported so far with a *Case Fatality Rate of 23.8%*.
The *WHO* defines an outbreak as when the number of disease cases exceeds what is normally expected. Experts say Lassa fever is primarily transmitted through contact with the urine and faeces of infected _Mastomys_ rodents, which thrive around refuse dumps.
*Prof. Tanimola Akande*, Consultant Public Health Physician at UITH, said: “Rodents and insects breed in such environments. During the rainy season, floodwaters carry disease-causing organisms from these sites into surrounding communities, including sources of drinking water.”
*Dr. Rotimi Adesanya*, an environmental and public health expert, described the situation as a public health emergency.
“Diseases such as *cholera, dysentery and amoebiasis* can easily spread. Flies that feed on refuse later contaminate food and water. The more rodents migrate into places where people live, the greater the public health risk,” he warned.
The *Director of Public Affairs, Lagos State Ministry of the Environment, Kunle Adeshina*, said LAWMA had commissioned a rehabilitated platform and access road at Olusosun to ease congestion.
“The trucks will now have a quicker turnaround time in collecting refuse from homes. With time, there will be a noticeable reduction in the volume of waste on our streets,” he assured.
*LAWMA Managing Director, Muyiwa Gbadegesin*, said the agency had reclaimed part of the landfill to sustain disposal operations while gradually phasing out activities at the site.
He also blamed residents’ habits and unpaid PSP bills for part of the crisis.
“If people do not pay their PSP operators on time, how are the operators expected to buy diesel, maintain their trucks and pay their workers?” he asked.
The *National President of AWAMN, Olugbenga Adebola*, welcomed the rehabilitation, saying: “We believe this intervention will provide operators with much-needed relief. Once the transfer loading station becomes operational, we can fully resume efficient door-to-door waste collection.”
For now, residents like Chidiebere say the priority is urgent evacuation.
“Keeping our environment clean should not be the responsibility of government alone. Residents must also support efforts to maintain proper sanitation because our health depends on it,” she added.