“Amaechi Dustbin” in Obigbo: Rivers State Government’s Toxic Waste Dump in a Densely Populated Residential Area

The Rivers State Government’s Department of Environment has ironically decided that the best way to improve the environment and living conditions of Rivers State inhabitants is by dumping toxic waste next to their homes in Obigbo (Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State). The site of this dump is along the PH-Aba expressway in Obigbo right next to people’s homes, schools, and businesses. This is the location for the dumping of all waste collected from the greater Port Harcourt area and environs. This has apparently been going on for three years unabated. The stench emanating from this toxic dump can only be experienced to be understood as words alone cannot convey the direness of the situation. Residents who have the capability have been forced to flee their homes, while those who do not have such luxury are forced to endure what can only be termed as a major man-made environmental disaster. Medical experts have described the health implications of such an environmental disaster as catastrophic and called on the Rivers State Government to intervene before it is too late.

Apparently this site was opened under the guise of it being a ‘Recycling Facility’ sometime in 2011. Sometime in the past three years the name of the project has transitioned to ‘Rivers State Government Department of Environment Semi-Sanitary Landfill, Oyigbo, Rivers State’. Several hectares of land along the PH-Aba express road in Obigbo was fenced and prepped for refuse dumping with no further activity being done to treat or recycle the said waste. A Recycling plant should at the minimum be self-contained and have recycling equipment for waste sorting, processing, and onward forwarding for recycling. None of this is obtainable at this site, and no such activity goes on here. Refuse is dumped, massaged to make room for more refuse, and more refuse is dumped on a daily basis. Mind you all of this is done in an open air location within a few feet (less than 10ft) of inhabited residential properties.

Situated right next to this site is a brand new residential estate, filling stations, elementary and secondary schools, medical centers, and surrounding existing residential homes and businesses. On a daily basis refuse trucks can be seen trooping in and dumping refuse collected from all over Port Harcourt into an open air area. The only ‘protection’ between this toxic dump and its immediate environs is an open-air 8-ft high concrete block fence, and there is absolutely no recycling going on.

In the usual Nigerian way these poor folks who have had the unfortunate luck of having this refuse dump as an unwelcome neighbor are suffering in silence, with many too afraid to speak up for fear of retribution. The gases given off from this dump has given many a resident sleepless nights and the negative environmental and health impact toll is increasing with each passing day that this dump is allowed to exist next to people’s homes. This is an environmental catastrophe in the making and one would expect that the Rivers State Department of Environment, of all bodies, should be aware of this.

Our reporter also gathered that this dump was initially attempted in Etche area of Rivers State and was vehemently rejected by the locals after which it was relocated to the Obigbo area. Our reporter has obtained exclusive footage of the site, pictures, and interviews with distressed residents. Those who have been brave enough to speak up have pleaded with the Rivers State Government led by Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi to step in and save their environment and potentially their lives before it’s too late. Some have called for Federal Government Intervention as they believe their pleas over the past three years have fallen on the deaf ears of the Rivers State Government.

Special Note: In Oyigbo, Governor Amechi’s toxic waste dump put millions at severe health risk. Efforts by Africanewscircle to get the reaction of the Rivers State Commissioner for information, Ibim Seminatari on why the government chose to poison its own people with noxious waste proved abortive as the commissioner failed to supply answers. A text message from Africanewcircle, Washington DC to Seminatari’s cell phone read: “We have a report on a noxious waste dump site sited by the Rivers State government in Oyigbo. How do you react to the inhumane conditions foisted on the residents by the toxic odour so emitted? Is that what is expected of a responsible government?”