Residents of the Cheering News axis in Satellite Town, Calabar, have expressed relief and appreciation to Bassey Edet Otu following the evacuation of a refuse dump that had reportedly remained in the area for over Eight (8) months .
The residents said the overflowing dumpster, located in the busy Satellite Town area of Calabar, had become a major environmental and health concern. According to them, the site was constantly filled with refuse, emitting offensive odour and spilling onto surrounding roads and walkways.
The evacuation was carried out through the intervention of the office of the Executive Secretary of the Calabar Urban Development Authority, Dr. Ayi.
Speaking on the development, Dr. Ayi explained that the location was not originally designated as one of the approved daily refuse collection points within the Calabar Municipal area. As a result, the site was not captured in the routine waste evacuation schedule.
He stated that the situation only came to the agency’s attention after a correspondent of CalabarGist reported the hardship being faced by commuters and residents in the area.
According to the Executive Secretary , the individual who initially positioned the dumpster at the location failed to follow the proper approval process, which contributed to the delay in addressing the issue.
Following the intervention, residents applauded the state government for removing both the refuse and the dumpster itself, insisting that they no longer want a waste collection point at the location.
Traders, market women, restaurant operators and shop owners in the area said the foul smell from the dump had negatively affected their businesses and driven customers away.
Among those affected were businesses around the Cheering News area, including several local restaurants and roadside shops in Satellite Town. Residents said the continued presence of the dumpster posed serious risks to public health and called for a more suitable waste disposal arrangement in the area.
They commended Bassey Edet Otu and the Calabar Urban Development Authority for responding to their concerns and restoring a cleaner environment to the neighbourhood.
