HOW GEGE RIVER TRANSITIONED INTO A DUMPSITE

The status of Gege river now is a far cry from what a clean and conserved river should represent. The disposal of waste into the water body has made it an eyesore to behold. Household waste such as

, urine, pet bottles, nylon wraps, takeaway packs etc., from the community residents as well as blood effluents, animal remains, and perishable goods from the community market has contaminated and filled up the river due to the lack of proper waste disposal. 

As humans, it is inevitable that we generate waste. However, it is also pertinent that we find the appropriate means of disposal of these wastes so that he does not build up in our environment and thus cause various health problems and other environmental issues. 

The people of Gege River seem to think of their surrounding waters as a means to dispose of their wastes. In their own knowledge of it, they believe the river to be a means of transporting their wastes or absorbing it as the case may be. But unbeknownst to them that their unhealthy habit of dumping wastes in their surrounding rivers will cause huge problems for them. 

During the rainy season, the people of Gege River throw in all kinds of wastes as usual, thinking that the heavy waters will sweep away their wastes but in contrast, this act as lead to flooding and also causing loss of lives, properties, as well as human displacements. This further impacts on various diversities habituating around the Gege River.

Examples of wastes dumped in the Gege River include: Human waste (excreta), polythene bags, plastics, food wastes, glass bottles and so on.

The gradual act of dumping wastes into the Gege River, overtime, transitioned the Gege River into a dumpsite, causing not only environmental problems like flooding, biodiversity displacements and so on, but also severe health issues to humans habituating the area.

It is imperative for the Gege River community to work together to put a stop to this unhealthy lifestyle and make their surrounding Rivers clean again through frequent cleanups and also providing alternative means of waste disposal, which are non-injurious to both human and environmental health.