By FELIX OGBONNA

ABA—There is apprehension in Aba, Abia State over possible outbreak of an epidemic following heaps of refuse at Emelogu Street, Ogbor Hill.

Apart from the stench oozing from the refuse, the road which links Ngwa road and other parts of the city has almost been completely blocked.

South East Voice visited the area and noticed that some traders and other residents of the area have abandoned their shops as a result of the stench which had fouled the atmosphere there.

Mountain of refuse in one of the affected areas.

The refuse which was said to have been abandoned by the Abia State Environmental Protection Agency, ASEPA, is posing a major health hazard to residents of the adjoining streets in the area such as Igwe Avenue, Panams, Esiulo and Acha.

Speaking to South East Voice, a shop owner in the area, Miss Florence Eke said the stench oozing from the dump has led to some residents of nearby buildings and shop owners fleeing the area. Eke added that the residents of the area had on several occasions complained to ASEPA over the risk they face following its failure to clear the refuse dump, but to no avail.

“I rented one of the shops adjacent to the refuse dump, but I can no longer stay there because of the stench oozing from the dump. We are suffering from the bad odour from the refuse dump. We have complained severally to ASEPA but nothing has been done to evacuate the refuse. Every year, we pay our sanitation fees but ASEPA will not fulfil its own obligation to the people. It is only through God’s help that we have not had a major outbreak of an epidemic. But God only helps those who help themselves. The ASEPA must play its own part to save us from imminent danger.

‘’If you watch those shops by the roadside and buildings around Esiulo Street, you will discover that people have relocated because of the stench coming from the refuse dump. You cannot stay around here during rainy season. The odour is even less now because of the dry season.

“We pay our sanitation levy annually but I cannot see why the ASEPA people will always fail to evacuate the refuse, we cannot understand why they allow refuse heaps to litter the places and overflow to the road. Once in a while , they will come and remove a little but the greater part will be left here. We are appealing to ASEPA to come and evacuate this refuse.”

Other residents of the area who spoke to South East Voice, accused the ASEPA of playing with the health of the residents and shop owners in the area by failing to clear the refuse.

One of the residents who gave his name simply as Okechukwu told South East Voice that many of his neighbours had relocated from the area due to the stench oozing from the refuse dump. According to him, “Many of my co-tenants have relocated to other parts of the town due to the bad odour coming from the mountains of refuse. As you can see, anybody that passes this area must cover the nose to avoid inhaling the bad odour. If nothing is done to ensure a permanent solution to the problem, I will move my family out of this area too.”

A teacher in one of the schools on the Igwe Avenue, near the refuse dump said that many parents had complained that the refuse dump poses great health risk to their children.

The Deputy General Manager, ASEPA, in Aba, Mr Iyke Anyatonwu was not available for comments when South East Voice called at his office.