July 10, (THEWILL) – Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq of Kwara State has rescued residents of Progressive Government Reservation Area, Gaa Imam, along ICT in Kwara State from the dilemma the administration of his predecessor, Abdulfatai Ahmed kept them in.
The former governor had granted Asphalt plant, a company that generates a mixture of dark bituminous pitch with sand gravel used for surfacing rods, floors and roofs, the permission to operate within an area in the community. The plant constitutes a health hazard to the residents who started visiting hospitals for treatment, coupled with the fact that the disturbing noise of the engine and dark smoke from the engine also covered all the areas making residents shut their windows and doors even during the day.
The residents could not hang their clothes outside to dry as the smoke would change the colour of the clothes. They had to stop hanging outside their residences to reduce the volume of fumes they inhale.
People became regular callers at the hospital with similar symptoms, such as running nose, throat and lung irritation leading to coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath associated with dizziness, nausea and vomiting which were as a result of the unhealthy environment they were staying in. Tenants and landlords vacated their houses for other locations just to avert the health hazard created as a result of the wrong decision made by the past administration. They battled the challenges till 2022 when the present administration heard their cries and ordered that the Asphalt plant should shut down operation. Residents had stomach the challenges for the past three years. They complained to the previous administration but nothing was done about their plight. Residents revealed their desire to return to their abandoned home since the governor has intervened and stopped what would have sent them to their early graves.
