In the Jabi, Wuse, Utako, and Mabushi districts of Abuja, Nigeria’s seat of power—long praised for its serenity and beauty as the nation’s capital—heaps of refuse now dot the streets, exposing residents to health risks linked to improper waste disposal.
Presidential aide Tope Fasua described the refuse dumps sharing space with residents as “gory” after driving through the streets of Abuja from Jabi to Life Camp, Utako District, to Gwarimpa.
“I drove around a bit over the weekend and saw too many incidents of fly-tipping, where people deliberately dump waste where they shouldn’t,” Mr Fasua wrote on Facebook in August. “I saw that at the Life Camp roundabout and all over the Gwarimpa side of the Kubwa Expressway.”
He added, “I drove past a huge waste dump right in Wuse 2/Utako as I made my way to the Centre for the Study of Economies of Africa. That was a gory sight. And there are houses built on both sides.”
The presidential aide, who suggested that the route be declared an emergency, stated that the uncollected waste was “riding on the achievements of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike on infrastructure in Abuja,” adding that “something is breaking.”
Months after Mr Fasua’s lamentation, situation remains unchanged
Peoples Gazette drove around the city centre on December 22 and observed that piles of household waste were emitting a stench on both sides of the road—from Nitel Junction to Glo Junction, from Aminu Kano to Turkish International School Junction, and at Banex Junction in Wuse 2, a district with commercial and residential buildings.
Filth was seen beneath the huge billboard at Glo Junction, while a walk along the pedestrian lane toward Banex Junction revealed more at intervals. At Turkish School Junction, another pile of waste sits, with the base of trees planted for beautification, harbouring refuse.
The Gazette also spoke with residents who registered their displeasure. For Ifeanyi Nnwanji, who was seated in his silver-coloured Toyota Camry along Banex Road, improper waste disposal reflects the country’s unorganised state. He expressed concern that this could negatively affect its perception among visitors.
“I’m not comfortable with waste littering the streets of Abuja,” said Mr Nnwanji. “When the city is dirty, how do you want us to be comfortable in it. A dirty Abuja shows how we are unorganised in managing our country and waste.”
He added, “Abuja is our capital. The government should try to see how it can manage waste and keep it clean. Clean up the city so that anyone coming in can be proud and speak well about us.”
Pam Dachu, who was walking along the pedestrian lane along Glo Junction to his place of work, warned about the possibility of an outbreak of disease due to the rising refuse dumps on the streets. He blamed the government for failing to keep the city clean.
“I fear there could be an outbreak of disease in Abuja due to waste dumping everywhere,” Mr Dachu said. “It feels so bad because our government is not treating us well. Most of these things are caused by our government. It is the government’s responsibility to take care of the country’s capital.”
Mr Dachu believes that the influx of people into Abuja as a result of violence and terrorism in other states has contributed to population growth and worsened the waste management crisis in recent times.
At Mabushi District, a heap of smelly waste spreading into the road—earlier observed by The Gazette—had reportedly been cleared by the company constructing the road entering Mabushi through Mobile Junction. However, near Next Cash and Carry Shopping Mall, Jahi, waste was dumped beside the shopping mall’s fence.
Gwarimpa’s ‘Dustbin junction’
Entering Gwarimpa—the largest estate in West Africa, built by former military dictator Sani Abacha—through the Banex/Jahi Expressway, a pile of waste was seen dumped close to the IBB Golf Club. The area has been named “Dustbin Junction” by residents.
Metres away from the IBB Golf Club and Oando Junction, another heap of refuse covered part of the road, attracting a swarm of buzzing flies as scavengers, popularly known as “babanbola,” scattered waste in search of metals, plastics, and other materials they reportedly sell to recycling companies.
An interior decoration shop owner, Aliu Baba, told The Gazette that the stench from the heap of refuse dumped just opposite his shop sometimes discourages customers from entering. His neighbour, a woman who declined an interview, interjected, saying a refuse dump in unauthorised places had become the new normal.
“The smell here sometimes chases away my customers. It is not convenient for us. Sometimes we have to use air fresheners before we can stay here. We cannot even eat here because of the smell and flies,” Mr Baba said, waving his hands intermittently to chase flies from perching on his face.
With a measuring tape hanging around his neck as he folded curtain fabric, Mr Baba said, “This has been for like four or five months now. Before now, they came every day to clear the waste, but now it could take two months before you see them coming to park it. They will just park half and leave the rest.”
At “Dustbin Junction” on Third Avenue, near Gwarimpa Market, the story is the same: massive heaps of uncollected waste, with scavengers hunting for metals and plastics. Two men approached by The Gazette at these sites declined to be interviewed, saying much had already been said about the waste crisis, yet the authorities had not responded.
Like the Glo Junction to Bannex Expressway, the road linking Jabi to Life Camp bears a similar dirty look. Heaps of refuse were observed at the base of trees, in front of the plaza, and along the roadside.
Sitting on a plastic chair under an umbrella a few metres from the heap of refuse in front of Sabondale Plaza in Jabi, Patience Shedrach, a point-of-sale operator, told The Gazette that those responsible for clearing the waste had not shown up for about a month.
“For like one month now, they have not come to park the waste,” said Ms Shedrach. “They only came last month to park half and left half. When they are parking, the smell will be extremely bad because the waste has been there for a long time.”
Though Ms Shedrach has to share her space with polythene bags, paper, and other light waste blown around by the wind, she said her main concern is a potential disease outbreak.
“It makes me uncomfortable because of the smell. Airborne diseases could be easily transmitted because there is dirt everywhere,” Ms Shedrach said.
‘Abuja is smelling’
Stench and smoke from a burning heap of waste spilling onto the road on Ebitu Ukiwe Street, Jabi District, filled the air as scavengers collected metal and plastic from the site.
The once-clean and serene Ebitu Ukiwe Street, named after a naval commodore and former military vice president between 1985 and 1986, now has piles of refuse at its junction.
Deborah Osor, a resident, condemned the indiscriminate dumping of refuse at the junction, lamenting, “What people are dumping here makes the place so stuffy and smelly.”
“You’ll be walking around the FCT seeing dustbins everywhere, and everywhere smells. You will see dirt on the road at every corner. The authorities should do something about it. Heaps of refuse on every street are making Abuja smell,” Mrs Osor added.
Jethro John, a native of Abuja and resident of Kpana village, opposite the Ebitu Ukiwe Street junction, expressed concern about a swarm of flies—dangerous, disease-spreading vectors—drawn to the piles of refuse.
“Heaps of refuse want to remove us from our houses. See flies everywhere. It is as a result of waste dumping everywhere,” Mr John said. “Check everywhere there are flies because of the refuse dumped everywhere. Imagine you are eating, and flies are all over your food. What do you expect? Dumped refuse, uncleared everywhere, is very harmful to our health.”
He added, “Before, we didn’t have this issue. I don’t know what is happening. Even where people were not dumping refuse before, they are now dumping it there. Please, the government should do the needful.”
Like Mr Fasua lamented in August, Joe Abah, a former director-general of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms, on December 22, 2025, decried a pile of waste covering part of the road at Ebitu Ukiwe Street.
“Dear @GovWike, this is the popular Ebitu Ukiwe Street in Jabi within the @OfficialFCTA. The refuse has taken over half of one lane, and cars are having to dodge the refuse to pass. Is there a reason why refuse collection has stopped in this area for almost a year now, please?” Mr Abah said in a post on X, sharing a video from the scene.
In another post on December 27, Mr Abah expressed frustration that nothing had been done, days after reporting the situation via contacts provided by the minister’s office.
“Dear Mr @OlayinkaLere, thank you for sharing the number to report uncleared refuse. I reported this one at Ebitu Ukiwe Street in Jabi to @OfficialFCTA some five days ago,” Mr Abah said. “I have also reported it to the helplines that you helpfully provided below, but it has still not been cleared and is actually getting worse. I wonder if you can intervene in any way. Thank you. Compliments of the season.”
Piles of waste on Abuja streets ‘eyesore’
Lere Olayinka, spokesperson for the FCT minister, described the waste scattered across Abuja streets as an “eyesore.” He, however, blamed waste management contractors for failing to do their job.
“I agree with you, it has become an eyesore,” Mr Olayinka told The Gazette on Tuesday when asked what the minister is doing about uncollected waste littering the capital city.”
However, he insisted, “The minister cannot be everywhere. Contracts were awarded to tackle this issue last month. The minister met the contractors twice. The minister will not be the one to carry waste by himself.”
Mr Olayinka added, “What the minister has done now is to release four telephone numbers to the public for people to call in and report development in their area.”
He said that, even though the minister’s office was monitoring the contractors’ activities, public and media support were needed to identify areas of concern.
When shown the locations where The Gazette observed heaps of waste, Mr Olayinka said, “It would be better if you provide a photograph of the area. This way, we can put the contractors on their toes and question them. Contractors cannot collect money and fail to work.”
“We need members of the public to assist us. Tell us, this area, this is the picture. When we have that, we can call the contractor. You cannot be collecting government money and not work.”
I’m in my village, I don’t know what is happening in Abuja: AEPBSpokesperson
When contacted by The Gazette on December 24, Janet Peni, spokesperson for the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB)—responsible for liquid and solid waste collection and pollution control—said she was in her village and could not comment on the situation in Abuja. She referred this reporter to a colleague to stand in for her.
“As you are speaking to me, I’m in my village now. Maybe you can get to the office. There is someone filling in for me. If you need to speak to our director, you can do so. But right now, as I am here, I don’t even know what is happening in Abuja,” Ms Peni said.
Moses Orji, who responded on behalf of Ms Peni, dismissed residents’ complaints that waste collectors do not show up for months as “mischievous,” asking the reporter when he had moved around Abuja and saw streets littered with waste.
“Our contractors are working every day, removing those wastes. We are going out monitoring them,” Mr Orji said. “Residents saying we don’t show up for months are not correct. If they give you such reports, they are being mischievous. Even in Europe, refuse trucks go around once every two weeks. You know, refuse is being generated in our homes every day.”
While Mr Wike’s office admitted that the city is littered with dirt but blamed contractors, the AEPB official insisted that contractors are working.
Asked whether he had visited Ebitu Ukiwe Street and other parts of Abuja, Mr Orji said, “Well, I will call our officers there and find out. But what I can tell you is we have been going out to remove the refuse. We go out once every two weeks. You know waste cannot be removed every day. You know waste is being generated on a daily basis.”
Implications of indiscriminate refuse dumps on Abuja streets
Residents interviewed by The Gazette from Wuse 2 to Gwarimpa, and from Jabi to Life Camp, expressed fear of a possible disease outbreak due to uncollected waste—a concern validated by health research and experts.
Roy Bagwa, a medical doctor at NISA Premier Hospital, Abuja, told The Gazette that although no outbreak has been recorded so far, the health hazards posed by scattered waste are enormous.
“Let’s start from the common things. Mosquitoes can easily inhabit a heap of waste scattered around the city. The issue with mosquitoes is malaria,” he said.
The doctor, noting the increase in the rate of fake anti-malaria medication, also stressed, “A pile of waste are another habitat for rodents, insects, cockroaches that carry all sorts of diseases.”
He added, “Of course, pollution. Waste scattered around contributes to global warming. These wastes can cause erosion. Thank God Abuja has a good drainage system. But when it rains, the rain can wash these wastes into the gutters and clog the drainage system, causing a flood. Before you know it, it is having a ripple effect on the ecosystem.”
Mr Bagwa said that although he would not declare the capital city to be in a waste management crisis—since no disease outbreak has been recorded—the situation in Gwarimpa “is so bad that it can cause traffic because the waste is on the road.”
“I feel a bit worried for those living in Gwarimpa. If we have this situation in other districts, then we are facing a problem. But it is not yet a crisis since there is no outbreak.”
Similarly, William Inyama, an associate professor of Environmental Pollution and Management at the University of Port Harcourt and chairman of the Waste Management Society of Nigeria, described the situation in Abuja as “shameful” and harmful to the country’s perception, highlighting its serious health implications.
“Thank God people are saying it now—that Abuja is very filthy. You can all see it. When you’re entering a country, the things you see shape your perception. It is a shame. If you are an investor, won’t you run? An investor who knows the health implications will run. Waste littering everywhere will drive investors away. It is bad,” Mr Inyama told The Gazette in an interview.
He added, “A typical dump is home for most of the rodents and flies. So when in a city like Abuja, where you have markets and butchers, once the flies perch on refuse, they go straight to your food and my food. So what do you expect? They are disease-transferring agents to man. You cannot rule out sickness, epidemic, from the situation.”
Mr Inyama suggested privatising waste management and collaborating among local, state, and federal governments to tackle the menace in Abuja and across Nigeria.
“Waste management has become a serious issue all over the world. Some countries are making it competitive by having it on the concurrent list, so that both state and federal governments can have an impact, because it is very expensive. No reasonable country should leave it for local government,” Mr Inyama said.
“We at the Waste Management Society of Nigeria are clamouring for the privatisation of waste management. Let people begin to pay for their waste, especially within metropolitan cities.”
A research by National Library of Medicine states, “Continuous increase in urban populations is a precursor to an increase in waste generation rates and, consequently, indiscriminate solid waste disposal, contributing to environmental challenges such as water, soil, and air pollution; blocked water drains, resulting in flooding and water stagnation in drainage systems; and waste items that favor water-borne diseases such as cholera and vector-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue.”
The World Health Organisation’s new report, ‘Throwing away our health: the impacts of solid waste on human health-evidence, knowledge gaps and health sector responses’, published on December 16, 2025, warns that poorly managed solid waste drives a public health crisis and calls for urgent action to protect people and the environments they live in.
The report cites “evidence on how solid waste— especially municipal solid waste—affects health through polluted air, water, soil and food. When waste is not collected, or is dumped, burned or not properly treated, it can release hazardous chemicals, contaminate drinking-water sources and create breeding grounds for insects and rodents.”
According to the report, the health impacts of municipal solid waste (MSW) are largely based on epidemiological studies, most of which focus on populations living near incinerators and landfills in high-income settings. Some studies have identified associations with adverse birth outcomes, congenital anomalies, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory conditions, and certain cancers.
Similarly, a report by the United Nations Environment Programme said increasing “solid waste is globally posing a serious risk to ecosystems and human health,” adding “Every year, an estimated 11.2 billion tonnes of solid waste is collected worldwide, and decay of the organic proportion of solid waste is contributing about five per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions.”
The UN report stated that poor waste management—ranging from non-existent collection systems to ineffective disposal—causes air pollution, water and soil contamination.
It adds, “Open and unsanitary landfills contribute to contamination of drinking water and can cause infection and transmit diseases.”
Ruediger Krech, the director of the department of environment, climate change, one health and migration at the World Health Organisation, in the health body’s new report, said, “Solid waste reflects how our societies produce and consume, and how we treat people and the environment in the process. If we continue to treat waste as an afterthought, we will lock in avoidable disease, climate pollution and deep social inequities.”
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