SANITATION challenge in Benue State has persisted longer than necessary. It is becoming almost impossible to manage or contain waste even within the state capital despite various measures adopted to improve and maintain a clean and hygienic environment. The grubbiness of the state capital is more conspicuous after heavy rains where streets and roads are left to care for themselves.
OVER the years, the Benue State Environmental Sanitation Authority (BENSESA), saddled with the sanitation responsibility has been struggling below weight with mere proper waste coordination, collection and then management.
PREVIOUSLY, sweepers were contracted, who swept daily some major streets and areas within Makurdi Township but the street sweepers have disappeared from the streets. What happens to the Public Private Partnerships the state government went into with some of the waste management and recycling companies like NABAT Limited, Sector Leeds waste recycling company among others is yet unknown. It is quite worrisome that even with these companies in place, the general hygiene of the state keeps deteriorating.
A recent walk round the state capital shows that waste continually litter around indiscriminately in gutters, on road dividers, inadequate refuse bins at strategic corners, late removal of such refuse which most times is accompanied with offensive odor hazardous to human health, coupled with numerous unauthorized dump sites, indicating that Benue State through BENSESA is yet to get it right on how to tackle waste.
MOST often, waste is seen flying off from the waste vehicles in the process of collecting waste usually placed on road dividers and other strategic spots by residents. Some roadside food sellers along Makurdi-Naka road, near Mobile barracks Junction have folded up due to indiscriminate waste dumping.
The Benue State government should make haste and acquire the proposed permanent dump site for proper disposal of waste within the state capital. Safety of the populace concerning disinfected sewage and liquid waste, especially that which is collected from the septic tanks should be addressed decisively.
A relapse in sanitation activities in recent times has been noticed unlike the vigour the present administration started with on assumption of office. Whatever might be the problem, BENSESA should rise to its responsibility for the safety and hygiene of the state.
SEVERAL measures such as over population check, funding, constant awareness creation on sanitation, general public mentality on hygiene and sanitation, among others must be reassembled and worked on diligently, if a visible change in sanitation must be felt in Benue.
