BY WINIFRED INARUMEN
The Edo State Government has sounded an urgent alarm over the worsening problem of improper waste disposal, warning that indiscriminate dumping of plastic and non-biodegradable materials is now the leading cause of flooding and gully erosion across the state.
Speaking at a public sensitization programme to mark the 2025 World Environment Day, held in collaboration with Green We Care Foundation and other environmental CSOs, Chief Executive Officer of Edo State Flood, Erosion, and Watershed Management Agency (EdoFEWMA), Hon. Ahmed Musa Momoh, said that environmental destruction is becoming irreversible in some areas.
Represented by the agency’s fiduciary officer, Mrs. Osasumwen Okenini, Momoh said: “We cannot continue this way. Gully erosion is consuming homes and roads. Floods are sweeping through markets and schools. If we don’t change our waste habits, Edo will face a disaster.”
He said more than 30 major flooding hotspots have been identified in Benin City alone, adding that the government was scaling up desilting operations and re-channeling stormwater.
The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) had earlier listed Edo among states with high flood risk for 2025. EdoFEWMA is now deploying drones and community surveillance teams to monitor waste management practices.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Sustainability, Mr. Jude Ekpu, noted that plastics now account for 75% of urban waste in the state. He urged residents to adopt recycling and participate in waste-to-wealth initiatives.
“This plastic you throw away can be turned into shoes, bags, paving tiles, and even roads. It’s not just pollution—it’s money thrown away,” he said.
The event included a roadshow, clean-up demonstration, and an award for communities leading in waste separation.
