Dark smoke envelopes Lagos dumpsite, residents scamper to safety

The smoke billowing from the Olusosun dumpsite in the Ojota area of Lagos State took a worse turn yesterday, sending residents and workers around the Ojota motor parks, Oregun and Motoway/7 areas scampering to safety.  Our correspondent, who was at the area to monitor the development, observed that dark smoke billows emanating from different burning […]

The smoke billowing from the Olusosun dumpsite in the Ojota area of Lagos State took a worse turn yesterday, sending residents and workers around the Ojota motor parks, Oregun and Motoway/7 areas scampering to safety.

 Our correspondent, who was at the area to monitor the development, observed that dark smoke billows emanating from different burning sections of the dumpsite enveloped the atmosphere, spreading across the DayStar Church, Motorway Building, 7UP/Mobolaji Johnson road and Billingway, among other adjoining communities.

 Aside residents, members of staff of adjoining firms in the area, tradesmen, commercial bus operators and commercial motorbike riders were seen running to safety.

 Chioma Adams, a food vendor selling to artisans at the mechanic village behind the Olusosun dumpsite, lamented that the business had been poor for the day as only few of her customers had shown up.

 “Even those who showed up refused to eat. They only came around and left. Nobody can withstand the smoke. They said they can’t be eating and inhaling smoke at the same time,” Adams lamented.

 Also, a member of staff of a news organisation with office at the Motorway building said neither he nor any other member of the news organisation had been able to sit in the office since the day began.

 The smoldering smoke at the Olusosun dumpsite had begun in March after a mysterious fire broke out, and had gone on unabated. 

 The state government attributed the fire to the heat that had boiled up for many years at the sprawling dumpsite. Scavengers and residents within the adjoining communities were then advised to relocate to other places to safeguard themselves against health hazards.