Calabar, NigeriaHannah Edet opens her shop in Calabar, a sleepy city in southern Nigeria, every day just after sunrise. It is located within the perimeter of a mountainous waste area, right in the middle of Watts Market or Urua Watts, as the locals call it.
She holds a thick bundle of fresh pumpkin leaves in front of passing cars and commuters, advertising in her native Efik language. The refuse piles up to four-foot high and slows down traffic. As they drive along the route, drivers spit in dismay while pedestrians hold their noses tightly.
Edets voice sounds croaky as her lamentations to Al Jazeera are heard. [the smell of the rubbish]My throat and nose have become blocked. I’m not feeling comfortable.
Calabar was established in the mid-2000s. A former slave portThe city was established as a tourist destination by the British colonial government. Its beautiful scenery, rich culture, and proximity to the Atlantic Ocean attracted tourists from all walks of the globe.
Between 2003 and 2006, Charles Taylor, the former president of Liberia, fled his country because he was accused of war crimes. Exile livedWith his family, he lives in a villa at the seaside in the city.
The annual Christmas carnival was once Africa’s biggest street party and hosted a wide range of notable performers such as the South African composer and trumpeter Hugh Masekela or the Senegalese rapper Akon.
2007: ReportThe New Humanitarian, which was then part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs declared that Calabar is one of the most clean cities and towns on the African continent.
The city is losing its appeal these days.
A trickle-down effect
There are now pockets of trash everywhere where once there was a line of trees. In some areas, trash cans litter the streets and attract a large number of houseflies.
The gutters of the metropolis are full of refuse and thick with overgrown weed. The Dan Archibong Memorial Park is located adjacent to the city center. It is under lock and keys, but it also houses weeds, and a lot of fallen leaves.
Urua Watts traders believe that the central landfill at Lemna, on the outskirts city Calabars major solid refuse dumpsite, has reached its maximum capacity. They also believe that the refuse overflow could be due to a boycott of garbage collectors over unpaid wages.
This has had a trickle down effect on the pockets and health of residents such as Edet, a 45 year-old single parent with five children and her finances.
My neighbor was very sick last week. [and]She said she was just recovering, and her eyes became cloudy with tears. To be more helpful, he advised me to take Paracetamol as well as antibiotics.
She claims that the last time garbage collectors came to remove the waste was April 8.
Edet explained that most often, the bird flies from the pumpkin’s refuse perch, which scares away customers. I stopped buying as much market because they were too expensive. [buyers]They cover their noses and run. It wasn’t always like that, especially during the time of Donald Duke.
A strategic ecotourism agenda
Donald Duke, a suave saxophone player, was Cross River State’s governor from 1999 to 2007. Calabar, Calabar’s capital, thrived as a tourism center under his administration.
Duke took a cue form his predecessor Clement Ebri (1992-1993), who was a landscaper and nurturer of ornamental plants in the city. He established resorts, parks, and agencies for beautifying and cleaning up waste in the capital.
It was part a strategic ecotourism agenda, according to Duke Emmanuel (radio host and product manager at Hit 95.9 FM Calabar).
According to Donald Dukes, the state’s main focus was tourism during his time. It was common to find waste baskets and bins within 100 meters of strategic points. They were also regularly cleared, as opposed to what we have today.
Emmanuel stated that the salaries of waste management personnel were quickly paid because tourism was the heart of the administration. There were even reports that Donald Duke drove incognito through the city to inspect its cleanliness. It’s amazing to see the state Calabar metropolis is in now.
Effiom Duke (not related with Donald Duke), deputy coordinator of Green Code, an advocacy group for human rights and environmental issues, blamed the deterioration on a lack in strategic planning for a population boom. He called for the closure of the current dumpsite.
Al Jazeera told him that a dumpsite should not be located near the homes of people. You can see the amount of decongested water dripping from the dumpsite that flows to the river at the state Water Board pumping station.
It’s a disgraceful act of government and state, Effiom stated. During the time Donald Duke, it was impossible to find refuse along the roads. There were taskforce agents at strategic points. They would arrest you if you littered the roads and bring you before the tribunal.
Uquetan Ibor is a senior lecturer in environmental polluting at the University of Calabar. This situation is just the beginning of something far worse.
Al Jazeera said that the accumulation of rubbish has led residents to dump their refuse in gutters, blocking narrow drainage channels and causing flooding in areas that are poor.
He said that it is often impossible to enter these areas when it rains. It is so bad that people use elevated bridges to reach their homes.
Uquetan’s Scavengers are now included in the mix, causing an unintended ripple effect.
They [scavengers]He explained that these bottles were taken from unsanitary areas and sold to women for absurdly low prices. These [market]These bottles were then used by women to make palm oil, Zobo, and Tiger Nut Drink. However, some bottles contained mercury or cyanide.
Some of them can even be used in petrol products such as engine oil. This can lead to lead poisoning and pose serious health risks for end-users.
I cant breathe
Benedict Ayade, the current State Governor, stated that he would maintain Calabar’s cleanliness standards as the cleanest municipality in the country upon taking office in 2015. He also created a special task force, Green Police, later renamed Green Sheriff to protect the environment.
Four of Ayades’ more than 2000 special advisers are specifically designated to waste management and the 2022 state buget (PDF)The Waste Management Agency was approved by the Nigerian government at 1.1 billion Nigerian naira ($2.6m).
Effiom said that the government’s inability to deal with waste effectively has meant that little has been seen on the streets. Our government has proven time and again that they are not accountable. Only a small amount of money is allocated to waste management. This is the problem.
Edet stated that the taskforce has been more interested in identifying houses with poor sewage systems to receive bribes from defaulters than maintaining proper sanitation within the metropolis.
These people will not be able to keep the environment clean, she said to Al Jazeera.
The Cross River State Waste Management Agency manager did not respond to requests for comment. Sunday Oko, director of waste Management at the state Ministry of Environment said to Al Jazeera: “Where is the refuse?” There isn’t dirt anywhere. Were working.
Edet, back on the streets, expressed one desire: She only wished they’d come and clean this rubbish. I can’t breathe anymore.
