Avoid dumping refuse in drainages, Qazeem charges all
By Bashir Dawodu
A Senior Lecturer at the Department of Health Promotion and Environmental Health Education, University of Ilorin, Dr AbdulRasaq Onaolapo Qazeem, has charged members of the public to desist from dumping refuse in running water, gutters and drainage channels to prevent blockages and ensure free flow of rainwater.
Qazeem gave the charge last Wednesday, (September 16, 2026) while discussing his research work, titled “Environmental Sanitation: A Collective Responsibility,” with UNILORIN Bulletin in his office.
He described the practice of dumping refuse in drainage channels as a bad habit, noting that uncontrolled water flow and erosion could damage roads, including asphalt surfaces,weaken infrastructure and cause significant financial losses to individuals, communities and the government.
Dr Qazeem,who is also the Sub-Dean of the Postgraduate School, added that stagnant water and accumulated refuse could create breeding grounds for mosquitoes and other disease-carrying organisms, thereby posing serious risks to public health.
According to him, these challenges could be significantly reduced if everyone took responsibility for the proper disposal and management of waste.
Speaking further on environmental sanitation, Dr Qazeem said it is a collective responsibility that requires the active participation of every individual in the society.
He stressed that the safety and cleanliness of the environment affected everyone and should, therefore, be prioritised.
“A clean environment is not the responsibility of a few; it is a shared responsibility that requires the commitment and cooperation of us all,” Dr Qazeem noted.
