ASWAMA Staff in Nnewi embarks on strike, as epidemic looms

www.odogwublog.com reports that residents and traders in Nnewi are at the mercy of officials of the Anambra state Waste Management Authority (ASWAMA) after they embarked on unscheduled strike occasioned by non-payment of their monthly stipends even when residents and traders claim they paid regularly.

Nnewi hosts the popular motorcycle spare parts at Nkwo Nnewi market in Anambra state , the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital and more than 50 Industries including Innoson Motor Assembling plant.

Following the unconfirmed strike refuse dumps have swelled in the past one week while foul and toxic stench oozed out from stagnant water and wastes in the drainage channels and roads. At some points waste took over the road.

Though Vanguard Correspondent saw bulldozers carting away refuse yesterday at different points, the stench was unbearable.

Some of the odour and stench emanated from heaps of waste in blocked water ways (gutter) at different points.

Already the Nnewi industrial city has over 11 sites filled to the brim with stinking garbage causing passers-by to throw up.

The dump sites at Emecourt Road Junction, Izuchukwu, Junction, St Mary, Okigwe Road, and Nnobi Road among others had no officials of ASWAMA but private tippers were seen being loaded by excavators to make way for motorists.

When contacted, officials of Anambra State Waste Management Authority ( ASWAMA) at Nnewi North Local Government Area referred our Correspondent to a contractor handling refuse management in Nnewi.

At the Izuchukwu Park where the office of PAJEN Ventures Limited, waste management consultants in collaboration with Anambra State Ministry of Environment was seen, the office was under lock and key and nobody was there to react to questions from newsmen.

The phone on the signpost rang severally but nobody picked it but a concerned witness informed our reporter that ASWAMA officials went on strike over non-payment of stipends for sometime.