By Huldah Shado
A worsening environmental and public health crisis is unfolding beneath the Obasanjo Road bridge in Dutse, Abuja, where illegal waste dumping has overtaken a once-functional drainage path.
What began as occasional trash disposal has escalated into a full-scale dumpsite. Residents routinely discard refuse beneath the bridge, assuming the stream below fed by a nearby dam will wash it away. But the waterway can no longer carry the load.
Now, piles of waste spill onto the road, obstructing traffic and spreading a pungent stench through nearby homes and businesses.
Experts warn that the stagnant mix of garbage and water has turned into a breeding ground for mosquitoes and disease, causing pests. Locals report a rise in illnesses, especially among children living near the area.
Residents are urging the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) to intervene, calling for proper waste management, public awareness campaigns, and refuse bins to curb the dumping.
As Abuja expands, the need for sustainable sanitation practices becomes more urgent. Without quick action, the Obasanjo Road bridge risks becoming a permanent symbol of urban neglect.
