Residents and shop owners in Orile, Iganmu, Lagos, have appealed for urgent intervention over persistent refuse accumulation. They said the situation was affecting businesses, sanitation and daily activities in the community. A visit to Iludun, Orile, revealed scattered refuse, dirty water, accumulated waste and an unpleasant odour.
A fish seller said the refuse was affecting her business. “I’m not happy about how the dirt is blocking my customers from coming to patronise me,” she said. She said some customers feared flies could contaminate the fish. She had resorted to clearing some of the refuse herself.
Rukkuyat Issac, a resident, said the poor condition of the road made it difficult for LAWMA to access the area. “I hope something can be done because it’s really affecting my baby’s health. I have to get treatment for my baby all the time because of the mosquitoes,” she said. Another resident, Ekene Obi, said the problem had persisted for years. Residents often dumped waste because they had no designated disposal point.
At Amukoko Cemetery, refuse piled up around the road median, blocking the pedestrian route. Hawwah, a resident, said the last evacuation was about three weeks ago. “Customers avoid the area. Nobody wants to buy food from the shops or sit around,” she said. “When it rains, the whole road is flooded, causing shops around here to lose sales.”
LAWMA said heavy rainfall had affected access in parts of Lagos, slowing truck movement and delaying waste evacuation. The agency said the government had responded with road rehabilitation, new disposal platforms and improved truck circulation. Residents, however, called for improved waste collection, adequate disposal facilities, and regular evacuation.
The refuse crisis in Orile is a microcosm of a larger problem. The government has made promises, but the residents are still waiting. The stench and flies are a daily reminder of failed governance. The health of children is being compromised. Traders' businesses are being destroyed. The government must act before the situation spirals into a public health emergency.
The winners: none. The losers: the residents and traders of Orile, who are living in filth; and the Lagos State Government, whose credibility is eroded by inaction.
Bottom Line: Refuse is piling up in Orile. Residents are living in filth. The question is whether the government will act before a disease outbreak occurs.