STRIKE: REFUSE TAKES OVER IBADAN, AKURE ROADS

IBADAN-Four days into the nationwide strike, refuse has taken over many roads and markets in Ibadan , the Oyo State capital.

Investigation revealed that some streets in the metropolis, markets and business premises were also dirty as many residents remained indoors.

Markets at Oke-Ado, Agbeni and Aleshinloye, all had debris littering their environs while dust gathered on the wooden stalls.

Many of the roads were still blocked with iron and steel materials used by protesters in many areas of the state capital.

Fumes and dusty remnants from burnt tyres and firewood fouled the air in many areas of the metropolis with most parts of the highways soot-blackened.

Similarly, refuse littered many streets in Akure as many traders have resorted to opening their shops in the night without bothering to clear debris left behind.

In Abeokuta, many streets, drainages and walkways were filled with waste in the absence of street cleaners and waste disposal vehicles.

Mr. Adigun Kareem, a resident of Abiola Way area, pleaded with the striking workers to allow sanitation officers to perform their duties.

'Just like the doctors are allowed to do their jobs, they should also allow these people to do their job because of the danger of epidemic outbreak,' he said.

However, in spite of the strike, many streets in Osogbo, the Osun capital, remained clean.

Apart from the remnants of burnt tyres and ashes on some major roads, roads were not littered, although there were few cases of indiscriminate dumping by road sides.

Col. Enibukun Oyewole, Commandant of the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES),  attributed the relatively clean streets to the culture of the people towards environmental sanitation.

Oyewole said the hygienic measures put in place by Gov. Rauf Aregbesola had continued to yield dividends among residents.

He explained that the OYES cadets, whose duties centre on public health, had done so much before the strike to keep the environment clean.