Friday 2 June 2017

Filth in Watt, Marian Markets: Residents cry out over Possible Epidemic

BY AGOSI EZIN

Residents of Calabar at Watt and Marian markets have raised alarm over the fear of contacting cholera due to filth littered in the market.

When theink visited the sites, filth along watt by Bed well Watt by Garden and Marian Market has taken part of the road causing traffic at the busy road.   
Some women were seen trying to clear a part with shovels just to shade their vegetables as they sang in choruses to who cares to listen, saying, “make una help us tell Ayade to come help us mbok! we wan die for smell o!” 

While some were busy eating their lunch as they inhaled the unpleasant odor, some traders said they are afraid it could result to cholera or other illnesses.
They complained of lack of sales because customers would not want to stand the smell gushing out of the refuse dump.

One of the women selling vegetables close to the filth said they started dumping refuse there about two months ago.   

She said, “this refuse has been here for the past two months and we have been paying money for sanitation but we are not seeing the result. All my customers have stopped buying vegetables from me because of the odor and fear of contacting cholera”

Another lady selling Periwinkles also lamented, “we have a government but they are neglecting us. They don’t care about our health. Just take a look at this place, is this the right place for refuse to be dump and forgotten? 
We have no option than to stay here because we need to sale and feed our family”.

She called on the State government to come to their aid, “please help us inform the Governor of our problem here before we all die of unforeseen sicknesses”.

When contacted the Director of Cross River Development Authority, (CUDA) Mr. Joe Mary Ita on the matter, he said the matter was being handled by Ministry of Environment.

On his part, the Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Mike Eyare declined to speak on the matter.

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