The Eziala Nsukwe Autonomous Community in Ubakala, Umuahia South Local Government Area, has called on Governor Alex Otti to intervene in the worsening environmental crisis caused by a dumpsite that has encroached on their farmlands. The community staged a peaceful protest, urging the Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) to relocate the site and restore their access to agricultural land.
The dumpsite, established in 2017, has grown significantly, encroaching on fertile farmlands and polluting the environment. The villagers claim that ASEPA expanded the site without compensating landowners, destroying cassava farms and leaving many without food or income. The site also affects nearby institutions like the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) Channel 21 Umuahia and the Carl Academy and Football College, as toxic fumes from waste make the area unconducive.
In a display of traditional resistance, the community blocked access to the dumpsite early in the morning with palm fronds, halting waste disposal trucks. Protesters, including youths, women, and their traditional ruler, voiced their frustration and demanded immediate action. Community spokesperson Chief Chiadikobi Ezigbo lamented the loss of farmland and the agency’s lack of response to letters sent in August and November 2024, leaving them questioning Governor Otti’s awareness of the situation. Traditional ruler Chief Bartholomew Okorie emphasized the impact on the agrarian community’s livelihood, urging the government to relocate the dumpsite and allow them to return to farming.
Healthcare workers like Chidinma Ngamegbulem highlighted the adverse health effects of the dumpsite, which has become a source of illnesses for the villagers. Women and youths, including Mrs. Queen Uchechukwu, expressed their collective demand for ASEPA to leave their land.
When contacted, ASEPA General Manager Ogbonna Okereke declined to comment, further deepening the community’s frustration. The protest underscores the urgent need for government intervention to address environmental degradation, health concerns, and loss of livelihood in Eziala Nsukwe.
AT REPORTERS
