An hour of the heavenly waters was enough to kill the scorching sun that had almost baked residents of the Federal Capital City alive. Like a newborn baby, the jubilation that trailed the first Abuja rain was spontaneous in spite of the ravaging wind that heralded the downpour. But buried in the comfort of the cool atmosphere left behind by the intervening rains, is a looming time bomb that if allowed to detonate, would send the jubilant residents into the risk of a sporadic epidemic.

With the rains over, residents are now facing the threat of a looming danger occasioned by the blockage of the sewage lines and drainage by the mass of accumulated debris that were transported from different parts of the city by the running waters.
The hazards and the effects of these blockages to the health of an individual can better be imagined than expressed on paper.

A survey around the city showed that quite a number of the sewage lines and drainage have been completely blocked forcing the sewage pots to vomit their offensive contents to the earth including human faces on transit.

This offensive ordor emanating from such nauseating sites is capable of spreading diseases associated with unhealthy environment to both inhabitants and passersby.
Apart from these, some areas within the city centre were flooded when the accumulated waters from the blocked drainage tried to escape out of the trap, thus, making vehicular movement difficult.
Some of such areas are the Garki General Hospital, Wuse Zone 6, Wuse Market, Area one and other parts within the Asokoro Districts.
Experts described water pollution includes surface runoff, leakage into groundwater, liquid spills, wastewater discharge and littering.
According to Dr. Samuel Nyikwagh, a public health expert, “living in a town with serious pollution is like living under a death sentence. If the damage does not come from immediate poisoning, then cancers, lung infections, mental retardation are likely outcomes.

“There are some towns where life expectancy approaches medieval rates, where birth defects are the norm not the exception. In other places, children’s asthma rates are measured above 90 percent, or mental retardation is endemic. In these places, life expectancy may be half that of the richest nations.”
According to a report by the World Health Organisation (WHO) titled: “Preventing Diseases through Healthy Environments: Towards an Estimate of the Environmental Burden of Diseases” four main diseases are caused by environmental factors are diarrhea; lower respiratory infections; various forms of unintentional injuries and malaria.

The report estimated that more than 10 million people in eight different countries are at serious risk for cancer, respiratory diseases and premature deaths.”
At the Abuja Metropolitan Management Agency (AMMA), the body responsible for the management of the city, Mr. Gabriel Obiahu the Public Relations Officer spoke on the efforts of the agency in tackling problems associated with blocked drainages.

Specifically, the Department of Facilities Maintenance and Management (DFMM) under the agency is shouldered with the responsibility of general maintenance of facilities in the metro.
Those flashy points embarked on general cleaning of the drainages to remove eroded debris and particles that are stocked
He identified some spots to include the surrounding areas of Wuse market, Area one, UTC, Area 8. Garki General Hospital amongst others.
Obiahu explained that the DFMM has nothing to do with the sewage connecting points, which he said, is the responsibility of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB).
“The cleaning and maintenance of the sewage connecting points is the duty of the AEPB. We are only concern with drainages and sock aways. Before the rains, we carried out a general cleaning of the drainages.. We removed the slaps and cleared the debris to allow free flow of water. This is a routine exercise been carried out in preparations for the rainy seasons.

The Abuja Environment Protection Board (AEPB) on its part said the departments send out environmental monitors on monthly basis who reports on the sanitary situation of the streets before the waste consultants are paid their monthly subventions.
The Public Relations Officer of the Board said waste managers were engaged for a five- year term to manage the federal capital city environment. He said the managers are monitored to ensure that the deliver on terms of the contract.
But some residents who spoke to Daily Sun blamed the problem to inadequate supply of waste bins by the AEPB.

Mr. Danti James said: “The bins are not enough. Each flat is supposed to have one but in some cases even when the bin is provided, they refuse to buy because of the cost. I pray we get a more proactive minister who is concerned about the environment.. I think the bins should be provided in large numbers, distributed and allow people to pay over a long period of time”.
But to Yinka Gbadamosi, a resident of Wuse Zone 4, the AEPB is not doing enough in terms of creating awareness and educating the masses on good environmental practices.

“In my area, there are about 60 women working but due to the dense population the waste is much. Though the AEPB is trying its best, it should enforce its laws and also educate the masses. “People litter the streets and go scot-free. They throw dirt’s from vehicles because they are not properly educated about environmental sanitation. People do not wrap their wastes before dumping in refuse bins. Some even scatter it on the ground and nothing happens. The situation is really bad and if they people are enlightened, the work will be easier for the respective authorities in charge of cleaning the city.”
Yes, something urgently needs to be done to avert this looming danger.