Workers strike causes refuse pile up in Jos

And, with the rains gradually setting in, many residents are expressing fear that unless the refuse heaps are cleared, they may likely lead to blockage of gutters which may lead to flooding. The Terminus market area and other places such as Ahmadu Bello Way, Murtala Muhammed Way as well as Rwang Pam Street are some […]

And, with the rains gradually setting in, many residents are expressing fear that unless the refuse heaps are cleared, they may likely lead to blockage of gutters which may lead to flooding.
The Terminus market area and other places such as Ahmadu Bello Way, Murtala Muhammed Way as well as Rwang Pam Street are some of the worst hit areas where heaps of refuse have taken over streets. This is largely because officials working with the Plateau Environmental Protection and Sanitation Agency (PEPSA), saddled with the responsibility of clearing the refuse are also part of the strike action.
Idris Samaila who sells apples at Ahmadu Bello Way said traders in the area were forced to inhale the stench from the dump site and nearby drainages. He said Governor David Jang’s refusal to meet the demands of the striking workers was responsible for the piling refuse dump. 
Simi Gyang who sells vegetables by the roadside however blamed traders in the area saying “the attitude of the traders towards the maintenance of the market environment is very poor. In the past, people used to gather their refuse in one place and put it in the bins but now they just throw it on the streets.”
Gyang said though the bins were all filled up, it was irresponsible to dispose refuse on the streets. She called on the state government to pay workers so that PEPSA officials can clear the refuse dumps.
To re-echo Gyang’s position, our correspondent observed that most communities around the city exhibited poor refuse evacuation attitude.