By Abdullahi Alhassan, Kaduna
KADUNA — Environmental experts and community leaders have called on the Kaduna State Government to urgently decommission and evacuate the Tudun-Ilu dump site in Tudun Wada, Kaduna metropolis, warning that prolonged exposure to smoke and decomposing waste poses serious risks to residents.
The call followed an assessment of the dump site by environmental scientists led by Comrade Ibrahima Yakubu, Head of Communication and Strategies at African Climate Reporters and a lecturer at the African Institute of Waste Management and Environmental Studies.
The Tudun-Ilu site, located close to the Fire Brigade in a densely populated section of the metropolis, has reportedly served as a waste disposal ground for several decades.
Residents say the accumulation of household refuse, animal waste and other materials has turned the area into a persistent source of foul odour, smoke and air pollution, with women and children particularly vulnerable to the effects.
Speaking after inspecting the site, Yakubu urged the state government to conduct a comprehensive assessment and immediately evacuate the accumulated waste.
“There is a need for the authorities to properly evaluate the dump site and evacuate the accumulated waste, so as to save residents from dangerous smoke from the trash dump site,” he said.
He also appealed to residents to desist from burning refuse at the site, stressing that open combustion of waste could release hazardous pollutants into the atmosphere.
Rather than allowing the location to continue functioning as an open dump, Yakubu suggested converting the land into temporary shops or other properly planned community facilities after the necessary environmental remediation.
The community leader of Unguwan Tudun-Ilu, Mai-Unguwa Mallam Husaini Yakubu, said residents had endured the consequences of the dump site for years and were increasingly concerned about its impact on their health and environment.
He said the site receives refuse from households as well as animal waste and garbage transported from Kaduna Central Market.
According to him, the continued burning and decomposition of the waste generates smoke that often lingers over the community for prolonged periods.
“We have been living with persistent smoke and respiratory-related health challenges within the community,” Mallam Husaini said.
“We appeal to the relevant authorities to put an end to the continued dumping of waste at the site.”
The community leader also backed the proposal to transform the location into temporary shops or other useful facilities, arguing that such a move could eliminate the environmental hazard while creating opportunities for residents.
He urged humanitarian organisations, civil society groups and health professionals to collaborate with the government and community stakeholders in developing a sustainable solution to the waste management challenge.
The environmental stakeholders recommended a coordinated intervention involving the immediate evacuation of accumulated refuse, prohibition of open burning, provision of alternative and properly managed waste disposal facilities, and improved waste collection and recycling systems.
They also called for sustained public enlightenment to educate residents on the health and environmental dangers associated with indiscriminate dumping and open burning of waste.
Yakubu said implementing the recommendations would help reduce air pollution, improve environmental conditions and safeguard public health in Tudun-Ilu and neighbouring communities.
Residents have reportedly made repeated appeals for the relocation or proper management of the dump site.
With concerns over smoke, offensive odour and related health challenges persisting, community leaders and environmental experts said urgent government intervention was necessary to prevent the situation from worsening.
