Oyo govt to rehabilitate Ajakanga dumpsite

Oyo State government has reiterated its commitment to rehabilitate Ajakanga dumpsite following the inferno that gutted the site.

This was disclosed in a statement signed and made available to Tribune Online, on Monday, by the commissioner for information culture and tourism, Honourable Wasiu Olatunbosun.

According to the statement, the government has concluded arrangement to rehabilitate Ajakanga dumpsite after the disaster that struck at the site a week ago.

Olatunbosun noted that the Commissioner for the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Hon. Keyinde Ayoola, had earlier revealed the government’s position when he visited the dumpsite recently.

The Commissioner, who in the company of his counterpart from the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, Professor Raphael Afonja, paid a visit to Ajakanga dumpsite, noted that it is not unusual to experience fire outbreaks at dumpsites during the dry season due to the self- ignition.

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According to Olatunbosun, The duo was on an inspection visit to appraise the extent of the inferno on the site.

“Unfortunately, we lost a waste truck, but then, the plans that we have now is the rehabilitation of this dumpsite including the three others,” he added.

Ayoola further said such inferno is often produced from the vast deposit of gas generated by microbial activity, arising from the organic component of wastes deposited on the dumpsite.

He said, “for this reason, we encourage residents to desist from encroaching dumpsite areas. Apart from causing environmental threats, it could also destroy lives and properties through the widespread of the combusting fire raging from the site.”

Meanwhile, Hon. Commissioner for Public Works and Transport, Prof. Raphael Afonja, added that the rehabilitation would start immediately in preparation for the rainy season.

He further stated that the construction of roads is part of the rehabilitation and that proper designs would be made to create pathways for trucks entering the site.