C'River Lawmakers Want Immediate Relocation of LEMNA Dumpsite 

C'River Lawmakers Want Immediate Relocation of LEMNA Dumpsite 

By Mark IDRAH  

The Cross River State House of Assembly on Thursday resolved that the State Government should urgently identify a new dumpsite far from human habitation and relocate the Lemna road dumpsite to the new location.

The House further wants the Government through the Ministry of Environment to check the stench emanating from the dumpsite and also explore ways of effectively recycling the waste to other byproducts.

The House passed the resolution during plenary, following the adoption of a motion sponsored by the Member representing Biase State Constituency Hon. Ogban Francis Onette.

Leading the debate on the motion, Onette said, the dumpsite which was established over 20 years ago during ex-governor Donald Duke's administration has become a menace to the residents around it and the whole city. He explained that the truck's conveying the waste drop parts of it along the route to the dumpsite causing air pollution among other hazards.

The Biase legislator also emphasised that the dumpsite is also a safe haven for criminals popularly called "Skolombo" boys who terrorize the vicinity at night thereby constituting a very major Security challenge in Calabar metropolis. He also maintained that the dumpsite is habitat to rodents, mosquitoes and other creatures which pose a danger to human existence.

Also, the Leader of the House, Rt. Hon. Francis Asuquo (Odukpani) said, "the trucks that carries the waste bins are bad, the bins too are bad thus littering the waste all over the place. Gases that emanate from the waste inflict serious damages on the biodiversity, agriculture and tourism efforts of Government".

The Lawmakers who contributed separately to the deliberation noted that the relocation of the dumbsite is long overdue noting that the new dumpsite should be located far from human habitation.

They also noted that some developed Countries generate electricity from waste so the government should put in place the proper machinery to make the waste useful at the new dumpsite.

The Motion was thus unanimously voted for when it was put to a voice vote by the Speaker Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem.