Kano community stinks due to faecal pollution caused by NCoS

• Residents, we have been exposed for five years

• Communities at risk from hepatitis A, cholera and other diseases – experts

• Prison overcrowding leads to ‘faecal leaks’ – NCoS

• Kano government and NCoS have yet to take action

For five years now, residents of the densely populated Trumin Oia community in Kano metropolis have been smelling the rancid odor that normally pollutes the air. An investigation by Daily Trust on Sunday found that the source of the stench was the conduct of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) which exposed residents to health hazards.

Durumin Iya is located behind what was once known as Kano Central Prison, a century-old detention center and one of 253 centers established across the country.

In 2019, the federal government repealed the Nigerian Prisons Act CAP P29 of 2004 and enacted the Nigeria Correctional Service Act to establish the Nigeria Correctional Service to provide custodial and non-custodial services.

Unfortunately, the stench in this community, home to one of Kano’s 13 prison facilities, is almost unbearable. The source of the stench can be traced to a canal behind the ancient detention center.

Kano Detention Center is a medium-sized detention center and one of the oldest detention centers in Nigeria. Despite the name change, it is still known as Kano Central Prison. It was built by the British colonial government in 1910 and has a capacity of 750 prisoners. But now it has more than double its original capacity, leading to overcrowding and poor sanitation; hence the environment in which it is kept is contaminated.

Residents told our reporters that the detention center, also known locally as Kurmava Prison, regularly discharges large amounts of human waste through the community’s drains. This attracts swarms of flies and mosquitoes, endangering their lives.

Investigations revealed that the waterway that originally ran from the detention center to the community drainage ditch has now become a sewage channel, breeding mosquitoes, flies and other disease-causing organisms. The drainage system forms a water bed adjacent to the community’s main water tank, providing residents with water for various uses.

Residents, we have been exposed to fecal contamination for five years

In April, the Nigeria Center for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) reported 1,336 suspected cases of cholera and 79 deaths in 12 states, including Kano. The NCDC’s monthly epidemiological report released in July also showed that Kano State ranks among the 10 states with the highest number of cholera cases in the country.

Residents of Truminia similarly said they face ongoing cholera outbreaks, rashes and other infections, especially children and the elderly who are more susceptible to water-borne diseases.

Further examination sunday daily trust It was found that in order to control the outbreak of the disease, Kano State House passed an Environmental Pollution Control Bill in 2022. The bill, which remains pending, seeks to address health challenges caused by improper disposal of hazardous waste in the state.

But Malam Umar Tijjani Ibrahim, a resident of Durumin Iya, expressed frustration at the government’s indifferent attitude towards their plight, saying the community has Letters were written to the relevant authorities, including the Kano State Ministry of Environment, Kano State Ministry of Environment Conservation Service and the Nigeria Correctional Service, but no steps were taken to resolve the issue.

“The feces released from this prison contaminates the air we breathe. It also causes cholera outbreaks within the prison facility and within our community. Recently, my uncle was hospitalized due to cholera,” he said.

Malam Kabiru Lawan, a 59-year-old resident of the community, also said, “They have been releasing feces into our drains for at least five years.” He said the behavior of the shelter center was intentional, adding said residents would be forced to stay indoors on certain days when the center releases human waste.

“Whenever they release it, we cannot even use the water in this tank. We have to use disinfectants because this is the only source of water for us to drink, cook and bathe. We have no piped water supply in this community. Action at the detention center may leading to large-scale outbreaks of diseases such as cholera or epidemics,” he added.

Lawan said they had made repeated appeals to the state government and regulatory authorities to find better and safer ways to manage waste and clean the community’s drains, but they had not done so. Some women in the community said they were forced to let the stench of feces harden almost every day while cooking and doing daily chores at home.

“Whenever they release it, the smell is very bad, especially in the middle of the day when there is no electricity,” said Hajiya Amina Mohammed Jakada. “Even at night, we cannot open the windows because Foul odors always pollute the air. “

Hajiya Amina, who is in her fifties, said she spends at least 10,000 naira a month on room fresheners and other incense burners to eliminate odors. “Every day, I have to use an incense burner and room freshener. What about those who can’t afford it? “This is our reality every day because of the actions of the detention center,” she added.

Malama Hafsatu Abubakar, who runs a small food business in the community, said the stench has caused her to lose many customers. She said: “Honestly, it affects me because every time they release shit, it drives away my customers. This food industry means everything to me and my kids because we depend on it to survive. We hope The authorities are able to resolve the issue,” she said.

Communities at risk from hepatitis A, cholera and other diseases – experts

When our reporter contacted the NCDC for comment on the pollution and its impact on public health, he was referred to communications director Dr Yahya Disu, who said he was out of the country but agreed to respond to the issue via WhatsApp. But despite repeated attempts, he failed to respond to inquiries.

However, Dr Abdulaziz Bako, a Nigerian public health researcher based in Texas, US, said the condition could lead to a host of illnesses such as dysentery, typhoid and malaria.

“It is very important to avoid potential epidemic outbreaks in communities,” he said, adding that governments must not only stop the discharge of feces into community drains but also ensure that individuals have access to drinking water.

“From a community perspective, people must ensure that the water they use is not contaminated with faeces. Additionally, any water they use should be thoroughly boiled and filtered. “They should use disinfectants,” he added.

Overcrowding leads to sewage leaks – NCoS

Section 23 (2) of the Nigeria Correctional Service Act, 2019 provides for daily inspections of detention centers to ensure proper hygiene of prisoners and facilities, as well as other health care services to prevent disease. But despite such regulations, the center continued to empty its sewage in a crude manner, endangering the lives of residents and the surrounding community.

In its response, the Kano State NCoS Command said the faeces discharged from Trumingia Community Shelter Center were the result of sewage leakage, which they blamed on overcrowding of the facility.

The Public Relations Officer of Kano NCoS, Superintendent Musbahu Kofar Nassarawa, said such environmental issues arise because the sewerage system at the center was installed decades ago Expected.

“The Service is concerned about environmental complaints from residents of Kurmawa Quarters (Durumin Iya), where our facility is located. The facility was built in 1910 to house 750 inmates but currently houses over 1,500 inmates. As such, these environmental concerns are expected It’s due to overcrowding,” he explained.

but daily trust saturday Despite accepting their action, which a spokesperson said was not intentional, the NCoS has yet to begin a remediation plan, the report said.

Kano government feigns ignorance

Although residents of Dulimingia lodged a formal complaint with the Kano State Ministry of Environment, which regulates and monitors environmental activities in the state, the ministry told our reporter that they were not aware of any faecal contamination in the community.

When informed that the community had written several letters to the ministry, Director of Public Enlightenment Ismail Garba Gwammaja said they had not received any complaints about sewage discharges or leaks . He advised the community to lodge a written complaint with the Ministry of Environmental Protection for further action as it has a pollution control and environment division responsible for checking such “environmental nuisances”.

“They (communities) can submit it in writing to the department. They should record it and file a case or appeal to the department. When we receive petitions or complaints from residents, we will set up a mechanism to assign the pollution control department to investigate Explain the situation, evaluate the reasons or other.

“They (pollution control department) will come back and provide professional and adequate advice on what to do so that people in the area do not face such inconvenience,” he said.

However, the reporter learned that the latest letter from all walks of life to the National Environmental Commissioner in September was received on September 13, 2023 and confirmed by the Ministry of Environmental Protection.

Kano government, detention centers yet to take action

sunday daily trust Three weeks after the Kano State Ministry of Environment became aware of the situation in Dulimingiya, it has yet to take action, the report said.