Ogun waste crisis deepens as indiscriminate dumping threatens public health and environment, despite fines and designated disposal points

Ogun State is grappling with a mounting waste crisis as indiscriminate dumping of refuse by residents continues to block streets, waterways, and drainage systems across the state, raising serious public health and environmental concerns.

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The situation sharply contrasts with statements made in December 2024 by the Commissioner for Environment, Mr Ola Oresanya, who described Ogun as one of the cleanest states in Nigeria during a food and beverages exhibition in Abeokuta.

Today, piles of trash on major roads tell a very different story.

Residents across Abeokuta South, Mowe-Ibafo, and Obafemi Owode local government areas report irregular refuse collection by the Private Sector Participants (PSP), the contractors responsible for waste management.

In some communities, residents resort to burning or dumping waste in open spaces, exacerbating pollution.

A Public Health Specialist, Tonia Shodunke, warned that airborne microorganisms from rotting waste could spread communicable diseases such as cholera, dysentery, Lassa fever, and even malaria.

“Contaminated air exposes the community to disease, especially when children and residents pass by these sites,” she said.

Shodunke called for widespread public enlightenment to curb unsafe waste practices.

Environmentalist Prof. Dosu Malomo noted that indiscriminate dumping disrupts ecosystems, threatens biodiversity, and creates breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

He advocated for designated dumping sites, selective waste disposal, and stricter enforcement.

Malomo referenced the War Against Indiscipline under the 1983 Muhammadu Buhari regime as a model for effective compliance and deterrence.

Despite existing regulations under the Ogun State Waste Management Authority Law, 2020, which prescribes fines up to N2 million or three months’ imprisonment for violators, enforcement remains inconsistent.

Abayomi Hunye, the former Managing Director of OGWAMA, said 128 residents and 20 companies were prosecuted in 2025, yet non-compliance persists.

Residents of Mowe-Ibafo, Panseke, and other communities continue to report limited PSP coverage, forcing makeshift disposal methods that pose environmental and health risks.

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Public health and environmental experts stress that immediate government intervention, consistent enforcement, and community awareness are critical to prevent outbreaks and restore Ogun’s reputation as a clean and healthy state.