Students in Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto (UDUS) private hostels have appealed to authorities to help with proper waste disposal to avoid an outbreak of epidemic on campus. ABDULRASHEED AKERE (UDUS) reports.
On May 18, this year, after returning from the morning lecture, a student of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS), Abdulbasit Yusuf, stared pitifully at some little children scavenging his hostel’s dumping site. From his face, it’s easy to observe that he feels sorry for the ignorant children.
When he was questioned on why his hostel and the nearby hostels dump refuse in the open place, his responded that their landlord did not provide them with a trash bin. So, they have no option than to dispose of their wastes there.
Checks show that when the refuse is much in the open dump site, some students use to volunteers to burn them.
“You won’t like to pass through the dump site when they are burning the refuse because they do set fire on the burnable and unburnable refuse. The smoke from the burning usually makes the atmosphere toxic,” said Abdulbasit.
The management of UDUS employs cleaners who keep the campus and school hostels clean. Also, trash bins that have ‘Keep UDUS clean’ written on them are placed across faculties for proper waste disposal. But no bins are provided at private hostels in the school and the mini-marts in the hostels which gives rise to improper waste disposal.
Students residing in private hostels in Benji, Shama, among others, and business owners at the mini-marts decide to dispose of wastes openly.
Abdulbasit pleaded with the management to also provide bins for private hostels.
“The landlords do not care about this stuff. The management should make provision for us since we are also in the school environment. If bins are placed in strategic places, we will be obliged to make use of them, if not, students have no option than to continue disposing of refuse improperly,” he said.
Another private hostel engaged in poor waste disposal
A visit to a private hostel, popularly known as 80K Hostel in Benji area shows how students dump refuse in different corners of the compound. Flies were seen around the waste on the water way and ground in the compound. The hostel, which houses male and female students, is dirty and stinky.
Ola Kareem, a 400-Level student of Sociology, bemoaned the state of the hostel environment. He blamed the landlord and caretaker for not providing them with bins.
“They (landlord and caretaker) are collecting hostel rent from us, so they should care for us. When the dirt and odour are too much, students pay Yaro boys to clean the environment,” he said
Not only private hostels
Business owners at the university’s mini-marts also engaged in disposing waste in an open place around their shops. Some people, especially children, use the open dump site for defecation. It was observed that foodstuff sellers leave their goods such as rice, beans, garri open to attract customers, while heavy wind carries sands and light wastes from the dumping site around the environment.
A 300-Level student of the Education Foundation Department, Abdulrasaq Mustapha, recounted how he one found sand and stones in some cups of rice and garri he bought from one of the shops at the mini-mart.
“I have stopped buying foodstuff from them unless I don’t have an option,” he said. He implored the management to take action on it because it is located inside the school.
“I used to eat at a restaurant that is far from the dumping site and I do check the environment very well before eating,” he added.
Abdulrasaq said the chemist and pharmaceutical shops at the mini-mart should be held responsible for the used syringes and some other clinical wastes found on different dump sites around the mini-mart.
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More health threats
At the university’s clinic, the environment was neat and clean but the cleaners dumped most of the waste collected from the clinic behind the fence. The clinic’s Director of Health, Dr Ibrahim Umar said upon noticing the improper waste disposal around the hospital fence, he informed the officer in charge. But he didn’t know that they hadn’t stopped the act.
He summoned the officer, Mallam Umar Muhammad Sheu, and charged him to gather his colleagues to clear the wastes.
“You know I have talked about this before. So, talk to your people to burn the refuse and stop dumping anything there, henceforth they should use the motorable dustbin that will take it away from the clinic.
“The director has given an order and we will try to take action in the coming week,” he added.
Stakeholders intervene
The university’s Dean of Students Affairs, Prof. Umar Aliyu, expressed displeasure over the improper waste disposal at the mini-marts.
“Business owners need to be sensitised on the importance of proper waste management and the menace of improper waste disposal,” he said.
He noted that the school authority could provide them a garbage point that will be far from the mini-mart and fence it with blocks to have a clean environment.
Expert weighs-in
The CEO, Securecycle Environmental and Climate Change Initiative, Emmanuel Kilaso, said improper waste disposal could lead to environmental pollution.
He said: “When waste is not disposed of properly, it can contaminate soil, water bodies, and the surrounding environment. This pollution can harm ecosystems, disrupt the natural balance, and negatively impact plant and animal life.
“Improper waste disposal creates breeding grounds for pests, such as rodents and insects, which can spread diseases. It can also attract stray animals, posing a risk of animal bites and associated infections. Also, if waste contains hazardous materials, improper disposal can result in the release of toxic substances that can harm human health.
“Accumulated waste emits foul odour, making the campus environment unpleasant for students, staff members, and visitors. The presence of waste can also attract flies, rats, and other vermin, leading to unhygienic conditions that compromise the overall comfort and well-being of individuals on campus.
“Burning of refuse poses serious negative effects. It releases harmful gases and pollutants into the atmosphere, contributing to air pollution. It can also cause uncontrolled fires, posing a risk to nearby structures, vegetation, and endangering the safety of individuals on campus.”
Kilaso also said improperly disposed waste could harbour disease-causing pathogens. He noted that when students come into contact with the contaminated waste, either directly or indirectly, they risk contracting diseases such as gastrointestinal infections, respiratory illnesses, skin infections, and other communicable diseases.
“Burning of refuse releases toxic fumes and particles into the air. Inhalation of these pollutants can trigger allergies, respiratory problems, and exacerbate existing respiratory conditions like asthma, leading to discomfort and potential long-term health complications. Living or studying in an environment with indiscriminate waste disposal can have a negative psychological impact on students. It can contribute to feelings of unease, stress, and discomfort, which can affect their well-being, concentration, and academic performance.
“Proper waste disposal practices, promoting recycling initiatives, providing adequate waste management infrastructure, and raising awareness about the consequences of improper waste disposal are essential steps to ensure a healthy and conducive environment for students’ well-being on campus,” he added.
