By Sandra Chikezie, Abuja
With the rainy season still here in some parts of the country, there’s a growing concern about residents in Abuja dumping trash in the water channels.
Experts are saying this could cause some serious floods and health problems.
In places like Airport Road—Lugbe, Sauka, Tundunwada, and Peace Village—the waterways are full of plastic bottles, plastic bags, leftover food, and other household trash. 
This mess is already blocking the water flow in many drainage systems, raising fears of heavy floods.
A spokesperson from the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) said that people throwing trash everywhere is still one of the biggest environmental issues the city faces.
“When people dump trash in the drains, it stops the water from flowing. This leads to flooding, mosquito breeding, and cholera and typhoid outbreaks. 
We’ve warned people to desist from these unhealthy practices, but it’s hard to enforce the rules,” he said.
The Imminent Danger
FCT had some terrible floods last year. One of the worst was in Trademore Estate, Lugbe, where homes were flooded and lives lost.
Environmental experts warn that if people don’t start managing their waste better, Abuja could see even worse things happen this year.
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) says residents should expect heavy rain across FCT in the next few weeks. And blocked drainage systems are a big danger to communities.
What Residents Are Saying
The authorities are blaming residents for not keeping things clean; however, many residents say that the waste collection is not consistent, and that is part of the issue.
A woman, who owns a shop in CRD Estate, Lugbe FHA, said she has no choice but to dump her waste in a nearby drain.
“We hardly ever see waste disposal trucks here. Sometimes nobody comes for weeks. People will find a way to get rid of their trash, even if it means dumping it in the gutters,” she said.
Similarly, a resident in Peace Village said that not having enough public waste bins in markets and motor parks makes the problem worse.
“If the government gave us enough bins and collected waste regularly, people would do it the right way. But right now, many of us don’t even have an option,” he said.
What the Experts Are Saying
Environmentalists say that dealing with this issue will take stricter enforcement, get the community involved, and improved the waste management system.
Some think that educating the public is vital, advising that the govt should carry out sensitization campaigns, especially in markets, schools, and motor parks, to get people to know the proper way of disposing of their waste.
Everyone’s Problem
Officials say the government can’t fix this alone. Communities and individuals need to take care of their surroundings by bagging their trash and getting rid of it correctly.
