Health, Environmental Epidemics Loom In Benin As Refuse Dumps Litter Ancient City

Special Report By Bob MajiriOghene

According to World Health Organization (WHO), between January 1 and March 18, 2018 1495 suspected cases of and 119 deaths from Lassa fever were reported from 19 states (Anambra, Bauchi, Benue, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Federal Capital Territory, Gombe, Imo, Kaduna, Kogi, Lagos, Nasarawa, Ondo, Osun, Plateau, Rivers, and Taraba) of Nigeria. During this period 376 patients were confirmed, nine were classified as probable. Also, a World Health Organization (WHO) publication of April 3, 2018, On the trail of Lassa fever in Southern Nigeria, identified Edo as a state where the disease has spread very fast. Before scientists at the Irrua Specialist Hospital in Edo state reportedly made a breakthrough with containing Lassa fever very early in 2019, the disease had been common in Benin republic, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Sierra Leone and in Nigeria.

A thirty-two-year old mother of four boys, who begged for anonymity, sells pure water along the Ibiwe Street in the ancient city of Benin Kingdom, Edo State of Nigeria.

Business is brisk, apparently because of the hot weather, which increases people’s insatiable thirst for water. Ibiwe Street is a hotspot for trade because it is centrally located – in the heart of the city.

Young boys and girls walk that road to go to the schools on the Ugbowo axis – housing the University of Benin, the College of Education; and the Idia College, a school for girls. Located at a setting easily referred to as the Central Business District (CBD) of Benin City, Ibiwe Street accommodates Benin City’s Small and medium scale business enterprises.

It is a key route connecting the Southerly section of the City to its Westerly section, and therefore to key industrial hubs like Ore, Shagamu and Lagos. At the end of every good day, this trader would have sold close to six bags of pure water and made close to N1, 000.00, which she uses to support her husband and family.

Most of her customers often discard the mini-plastic bags on the street before moving on to catch their buses.  One of the reasons why business on the Ibiwe Street has boomed has been ascribed to the facelift that the Godwin Obaseki government has given to the road. Prior to the present administration, Ibiwe Street suffered unimaginable neglect.

Gullies and potholes on that famous street which was constructed by the great Kings of the Great Benin Empire, resembled miniature specimens of the Grand Canyon itself.  After he resumed office as governor, one of the first things that Godwin Obaseki did was a visit to that street personally. Thereafter, he embarked on rehabilitation of the famous street.  

Today, however, there is a clear and present danger confronting Ibiwe Street once again. Commuters and businesspersons who carry out business activity on that road said that from the minute you enter the street, dirt confronts you.

Drainages are blocked with plastic bags of different sizes and the street is overflowing with heaps of garbage to the extent that the smell almost becomes unbearable.

“Can you believe that this road was built less than three years ago? See…see as pure water bags and waste liter the whole place… Even the gutters are all blocked by pure water sachets,” a commuter who did not want his name mentioned said to our reporter.

That blockage now has stagnant drains producing a very nasty smell. “I wonder how we will survive it when the rains come oh,” the commuter said to our reporter.  The likelihood of the stagnant drainages and dirty street harbouring disease vectors like mosquitoes and rats capable of spreading an epidemic like Lassa fever is very high.

According to World Health Organization (WHO), between January 1 and March 18, 2018 1495 suspected cases of and 119 deaths from Lassa fever were reported from 19 states (Anambra, Bauchi, Benue, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Federal Capital Territory, Gombe, Imo, Kaduna, Kogi, Lagos, Nasarawa, Ondo, Osun, Plateau, Rivers, and Taraba) of Nigeria. During this period 376 patients were confirmed, nine were classified as probable.

Also, a World Health Organization (WHO) publication of April 3, 2018, On the trail of Lassa fever in Southern Nigeria, identified Edo as a state where the disease has spread very fast.

Before scientists at the Irrua Specialist Hospital in Edo state reportedly made a breakthrough with containing Lassa fever very early in 2019, the disease had been common in Benin republic, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Sierra Leone and in Nigeria.

Every day, in these countries, residents are exposed to dirt on a regular keel. Take for an example, a woman who roasts plantain by the side of the refuse heap at the park. She is not the only one. ‘Ice cream’ sellers and handlers of foods and drinks struggle for space with heaps of refuse, and sell by the blocked and smelling sewers.

Secondary school children are most vulnerable; hungry from school, they buy roasted plantain prepared around refuse heap and wash it down with either pure water or ‘ice cream’ prepared in factories infested with rats.

Lassa fever strikes when rats from the sewers like the ones in Ibiwe Street, and on major streets in the CBD, pass their urine and fecal matter on containers of staple foods like garri and water. The plantain and most of the materials needed for the production of ice cream are usually stored in warehouses with rats.

Bodily contact with an infected person can result in Lassa fever as well and can kill if left untreated. Encarta Encyclopedia says that most fevers like Lassa are ‘characterized by a rise in the body temperature, as measured in the mouth, above 37° C (98.6° F).

Although people have survived temperatures over 43° C (110° F), a fever higher than 41° C (106° F) typically results in convulsions, particularly in babies or the elderly.’

Nigerians who daily use Ibiwe Street either as commuters or business persons daily contribute to and suffer from being exposed to the dirty environment.

Alltimepost.com report had earlier indicated that the Edo state government has already ‘mobilized relevant health agencies and is working closely with a delegation of the Nigeria centre for disease control and the WHO to reduce the chances of a resurgence of the ailment.’

The report also mentions that the government has called on local government chairmen to ensure that the message to keep environments clean “gets to the people everywhere.”

This is laudable. However, the possibility of an epidemic in Benin City is sure no matter how much sensitization the government carries out without government stringent measures to curtail the culture of indiscriminate refuse dump by residents across the state. Many Nigerians who toss plastic waste on the streets are indifferent, and hardly take these messages seriously.

Alltimepost.com made several attempts to talk to relevant government officials on the stance of the administration in tacking the impending health and environmental disaster.

The Secretary to the Edo State government, Mr. Osarodion Ogie was among those called, but could not be reached for comments. Also attempts to reach the Chairman of Oredo Local Government Council failed.

The only Local Government councilor who agreed to speak on the issue begged for anonymity, maintaining that the council has zero tolerance for dirt.

“You can bear testimony to the fact that the city was very clean during the Christmas and New Year festivities. That was because we made sure our council worked round the clock to keep the city clean. We will be doing our best in the coming days to ensure that we pick up the refuse and clear the drainages in Ibiwe Street, and around the major roads in Benin City,” the councilor assured.

Edo residents believe that the state government can also ensure that those employed to sweep the streets do not litter the drainages with the dirt collected from sweeping the street.

That, in addition to a massive informational, enlightenment campaign against indiscriminate and deliberate littering of the streets in Benin in particular and Edo State in general may help save the City from a looming health and environment disaster.

Bob MajiriOghene is the founder of Bob MajiriOghene Communications, an investigative and environment journalism agency and publishers of Pathways for Development Communicators. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MPZS3V5  +2348156171133, +2349092194428  majirioghene@yahoo.com