Students Struggle with Bad Smell from Trash at Lagos School

Pupils and teachers at Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola Primary School are facing health risks due to rubbish piling up right in front of their school on Shasha Road in Alimosho Local Government Area, Lagos State.

PUNCH Metro found out that the trash has not been cleared for several weeks. The pupils and their teachers are dealing with the strong smell coming from the rotting waste.

The bad odor often drifts into the school, making it hard for students to learn comfortably. During a visit to the school on Friday, PUNCH Metro saw pupils holding their noses as they passed by the rubbish heap on their way to school in the morning.

Some students were seen trying to dodge the awful smell as they walked into the school. A similar scene could be seen when they left for home in the evening.

A staff member, who did not want to be named, said the situation has become very uncomfortable, especially for the children.

“The smell is terrible, and it is hard for us to act like everything is fine. The children breathe it in every morning before they get to their classrooms, and sometimes the smell even enters the school compound.

“We have been dealing with this for over six months. It is not good for the children to be in this kind of environment when they are supposed to be learning. We want the authorities to come and remove the rubbish before it causes health problems,” the staff member said.

A parent, who called herself Princess, also complained about the awful smell around the school. She questioned why children should have to endure such conditions while learning.

“This is a very sad situation. Why should children be made to suffer in such an environment? Just because this is a government school does not mean the pupils do not deserve a clean and healthy space.

“Every child should learn in a decent environment. It is painful that these kids have to deal with this stink just to enter their school. The authorities need to act quickly,” she said.

A local resident, who preferred to remain anonymous, also shared his worries about the rubbish that has been there for so long. He said it has also made life uncomfortable for people living and working nearby.

“The rubbish has been there for months. Why should it be allowed to pile up like this in front of a school where kids come to learn every day? The children have been putting up with it.

“The government should not wait until someone gets sick before they take action. They need to come and clear the rubbish immediately,” the resident said.

Another resident, Kolapo Adekunle, mentioned that they have tried to get the attention of the waste operators and officials from the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) about the rubbish, but nothing has changed.

He said the operators usually come around to collect waste but have failed to remove the heap in front of the school.

“We have done everything we can to let the waste operators and LAWMA know about the rubbish, but nothing has happened. They come to collect waste in this area.

“Just about two weeks ago, we saw a LAWMA truck in front of the school, and we thought they would clear the rubbish, but that did not happen. We were shocked that the waste was left there after they left,” Adekunle said.

He urged the authorities to quickly remove the rubbish. The spokesperson for LAWMA, Sanusi Olabamiji, could not be reached for a response. Calls to his phone did not go through, and a text message had not been answered by the time this report was written.

The situation at the school highlights ongoing waste management problems in Lagos State. Residents in many areas have complained about delays in waste collection and the return of garbage heaps on streets, roads, and residential areas.