Hard Time: Lagos Residents Scavenge Dump Site For Food

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

A dump site in Ojota has become a sort of haven for Lagos residents who besiege the site to scavenge for their daily bread. 

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that the drive to visit dump sites might be connected to the unpleasant economic situation many people found themselves in Nigeria.

When our correspondent visited the site, it was discovered that the visitors cut across both young and old, women and men, scrambling to pick valuable scraps they will sell to raise money.

P.M.EXPRESS discovered that scavenging the dump site  has turned out to be blessings in disguise for many who are lucky to pick used products which they resell and make money to buy food for themselves and families.

Despite the health hazard around the dump site due to offensive odour from the debris, some of them cover their noses and were even seen busy struggling with caterpillars which are used to dispose the waste brought by the PSP trucks from different areas to the site.

What the people are on the lookout for at the site include plastics, aluminium, used properties such as plates,  clothes, shoes and others. Some of them who spoke with our  correspondent said the dump site has become their business location because they come there to pick things they sell to raise money.

One of the people at the site, Abdul Aminu told P.M.EXPRESS that he has been visiting the site for several years and it has been a blessing to his family because he used to sell the products he got to raise money to buy food for them.

When our correspondent asked him how he managed himself because of the hazardous nature of the dump site and its environs, most especially the health implication, he said they usually drink antibiotics to prevent any infections.

Ifeanyi Onyeka told our correspondent that he moved to the dumb site after his business collapsed, adding that since then he has no regret because he has been able to sustain his family.

He explained that the site has blessed many families as they used to pick some by-products which they sell for reasonable amount of money.

He noted that the place (dump site) cannot be celebrated because even some of the visitors to the place know that they are taking a great risk because of the offensive odour coming out from the site, but they had no choice for now.

Jamiu Toheeb said he had achieved a lot since he started visiting the site, adding that  he had picked valuable household items, such as television, fridges, gas cookers, plates, clothes and other accessories which he re-worked and sold.