It was on a Saturday evening around 5:00 pm in July, the atmosphere was cool, the sky started changing the cloud’s color into a mixture of blue and deep black, indicating that the rain wanted to fall. As Sokoto state is known for, there would be a blowing of breeze even resulting into wind before rain will drop.
The breeze started to increase and the level of litters in the air continuously increased as well. It’s started packing some unburnt refuse into the doorstep of Jibril Aminu hostel at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto (UDUS).
Abdulsalam Abdulsalam, a 200-level student of Economics expressed his sad feelings on the situation of things when it comes to where the waste is being disposed of around the school hostel. “I have not seen a day that I wouldn’t pass through this place because it’s a link area to the outside of the hostel. Whenever I pass through the place, I would have to spit saliva and cover my nose,” he explained.
Abdulsalam pleaded to the school management that, “The garbage point which causes air pollution should be moved far from the hall of residence in order to have a good atmosphere.”
A 2022 report by the World Health Organization or WHO asserted that, “Improper disposal can lead to adverse health outcomes, for example through water, soil and air contamination. Hazardous waste or unsafe waste treatment such as open burning can directly harm waste workers or other people involved in waste burning and neighboring communities.”
“Vulnerable groups such as children are at increased risk of adverse health outcomes. Poor waste collection leads to environmental and marine pollution and can block water drains. Resulting flooding and other standing waters in waste items favor cholera and vector-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue,” the report stated.
More Students Bemoan
Saidu Sabiu, a final-year student of Microbiology, recounted how he had several encounters with hostel cleaners on disposal of waste anywhere around the hostel. “This rainy season requires more health alert, the level at which students fall sick used to increase.”
“Every single day, we are not in a good situation in our hostel because we perceive some odors from the garbage spot. If not for Allāh’s protection, we are prone to several health challenges,” he added.
Another hostel resident, Abubakir Sharafadeen, a 200-level student of Agriculture, bemoaned the situation of waste disposal near their place of worship (mosque). “I’m an eyewitness to this, there was a day while we were performing afternoon prayer, and the burning of refuse was ongoing. In fact, the smoke coming from the spot couldn’t allow the Imam and we followers to stay long in praying.”
“At times, when there is wind, not all the refuse will be burnt at a time, which the wind carries the litters back to the hostel environment. I urge the school management to do the needful because it’s not only affecting the ecosystem but our health status,” he pleaded.
Asthmatic Student Reacts
Ahmad Iliyas, a 300-level student from the English and Literary Studies department, also lamented the untidiness of the hostel environment. “I’m an asthmatic patient, I was in my room one day, and heavy smoke was coming from where they were burning refuse. I suffered the consequence that I had to vacate the vicinity immediately.”
However, Iliyas put the blame on the nonchalant attitude of fellow students including the hall governors who couldn’t carry out their responsibilities effectively.
Dustbins are nowhere to be found — Hall Governor
The hall governor of block A, Sabiu Muhammad expressed challenges from adamant students which allow the menace to persist. “As a result of the lack of consciousness of the students, whenever the cleaners sanitize the hostel environment, within a few minutes, you will see students start disposing of refuse anywhere they like.”
“Early this session, the hall governors had a discussion with the patrons which resulted in provision of dustbins in each block. Unfortunately, at the moment, the bins provided are nowhere to be found,” he complained.
Muhammad said he has been working together with other hall governors so that they would have roundtable meetings on how to curb the improper waste disposal.
Cleaner Speaks
Mallam Mu’azu, one of the hostel cleaners said, “The students are worsening the situation, meanwhile, welldone is what brings positive impressions towards hard work.”
“To curb this menace, the school management should provide the waste vehicle. Once we have swept the surroundings, the vehicle will just come to pack it once and for all,” he suggested.
Students are the major factor to improper waste disposal — DSA
Professor Umar Aliyu, the Dean of Student Affairs (DSA) attributed the improper waste disposal in school hostels to nonchalant attitudes of students. “There’s a saying that ‘cleanliness is next to Godliness’. The students are the major factor to improper waste disposal because we have sensitized the cleaners about it. In fact, there are some designated areas for the disposal of waste.”
“In order to make the hostel environment tidy, I personally supervise the distribution of iron dust bins to stop this menace. There is a plan for the provision of incinerators to some strategic places in the school hostels to curb the flying of refuse,” said the Dean.
“We need the maximum cooperation of the students, if we provide this and that, and they don’t desist from the improper disposal of waste, it will be like we aren’t doing anything.” he encouraged.
Expert Weighs-in
A Medical Lab Scientist and SDG advocate, Qoseem Ibrahim analyzed, “Improper waste disposal can predispose students and inhabitants of the university community to health threats especially during the rainy season. If the waste is highly disposed of, it will create an avenue for micro organisms to develop and all these microorganisms cause; malaria, typhoid, sleeping sickness and some other diseases.”
Furthermore, “In public health, whenever we are talking about disease, it’s not about the biological hazard of it alone but also it will predispose people to socio economic situation. If someone is sick, he/she has to go for medical treatment which costs more than a dime.”
Mr Qoseem added, “Improper waste disposal can cause a climate crisis, that is, whenever there is rainfall some people dispose of their wastes inside drainage, and when it is filled up to certain level, the waterway will be blocked. This can lead to flooding.”
While speaking on the way out, Mr Qoseem explained that, “Discipline should be inculcated by everyone who will love to see meaningful changes in the environment.”
“There’s a way of turning waste to wealth. The students’ union can partner with waste recyclers to train students on how to alleviate poverty through turning waste into wealth. The management should provide giant waste bins to the school hostels and some public places in the university community.”