How Poor Waste Disposal Exposes FUOYE Students to Health Risks

The students of Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), have expressed concerns over the deteriorating waste management situation in the school environment, explaining that poor waste disposal practices are increasingly exposing the campus community to serious health risks.

Many students told CAMPUS REPORTER that indiscriminate dumping of refuse, inadequate waste disposal facilities, and poor sanitation management in some student hostels have contributed to environmental pollution and increased exposure to disease-causing organisms. 

For students living off-campus, the absence of structured waste management systems has created sanitation challenges in several parts of the community.

Deborah Omitade, a 400-level student of the Department of Chemistry who resides at Old Education area, said her hostelmate recently suffered from malaria because of improper waste disposal, attracting mosquitoes. According to her, waste is frequently dumped in open spaces within residential compounds, creating an unhealthy environment.

“After consulting the hostel matron for help, she simply suggested that the dumpsite be shifted away from the hostel instead of addressing the root cause of the problem or ordering solutions” she mentioned.

Some students also mentioned that hostels in the area rely on makeshift incinerators where refuse is dumped and later burned once the waste accumulates. They added that the burning of refuse produces thick smoke that spreads into nearby rooms, causing risks for occupants with Asthmatic conditon.

Oluwaseyi Ajewole, a resident in Oye Ekiti, living with asthma, said he has been to the healthcare centres thrice in the last couple of weeks due to the smoke from burning waste products. “It becomes difficult to breathe and even after closing my windows, the smoke still enters my room and then my chest becomes tight and I get rushed to the hospital,” he said.

Findings by this newspaper show that improper waste disposal leads to outbreaks of diseases including Cholera, Typhoid fever, and respiratory infections. In addition to health concerns, the environmental impact is also significant. Blocked drainage systems caused by waste buildup have led to localised flooding during rainfall, further compounding sanitation challenges on campus.

The Ekiti State Environmental Sanitation and Waste Management Policy mandates that landlords provide functional refuse disposal facilities and ensures that students’ hostels comply with proper sanitation standards. Despite this regulation, many compounds in Oye-Ekiti continue to violate the policy.

A survey conducted among 53 students living in Oye-Ekiti further highlights the scale of the waste disposal challenge in the university community. The findings show that 58.5 percent of respondents dispose of their waste by burning it in open areas, while 20.8 percent dump their refuse at nearby dumpsites. Another 20.8 percent of respondents reported recycling their waste.

The survey also revealed that 86.8 percent of respondents believe there are insufficient waste bins within the community, forcing many residents to resort to improper waste disposal methods. In addition, 9.4 percent of respondents reported visiting a clinic due to infections linked to poor waste disposal, suggesting that sanitation challenges may already be affecting the health of some residents.

Respondents indicated that the waste disposal problem affects several student-populated areas in Oye-Ekiti, including School Road, the Education axis, Ekiti Kete, Irare, and Phase 2.

While a non-governmental organisation, Plogging Nigeria FUOYE, has been involved in climate change advocacy on and off campus, especially on proper waste disposal, students are calling on landlords, community leaders, the student union government and environmental authorities in Ekiti State to improve waste management systems by providing more waste bins and ensuring proper disposal structures in hostels.

Some students have also called for stricter enforcement of sanitation policies and increased awareness campaigns to promote proper waste disposal habits.

This is a collaborative piece done by Sarah Adeyemo, Oricha Moses Anawurehi, ⁠Ojo Samuel Oluwatimilehin, Daodu Dolapo, Dikeh Desire Chidurum, Ajewole Ibukun Toyin and Olabiyi Peace. Other group members are Kolawole Oluwatosin Christiana, Abolaji Precious Deborah, Durotoluwa Ifeoluwa Oluwabukola, Adetayo Ayobami Christianah and Bamgbade Oreoluwa Fikemi for the Next-Gen Campus Reporter Clinic at FUOYE Campus, Ekiti State.