By; Olasupo Taofik
Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall is faced with an unforeseen incident of fecal obstruction which began at the beginning of the week at the entrance of the Zik River bridge.
This issue, which is described by everyone passing through this route as pathetic, unhygienic and terrible, has a negative impact on the general health of students passing through the entrance each and everyday to classes and outside of the Hall premises. The faeces accumulated at the gate entrance can be traced to a damaged soakaway close to the JCR building.
This issue is not only affecting Zikites living in the Hall of residence, it also has terrible effects on other students living in Great independence Hall, Queen Idia Hall, Awolowo Hall, among others, due to the fact that the entrance serve as the fastest route for the whole lots of students living in these aforementioned Halls to classes and outside the school premises. Students inhale the foul smells from the contaminated and polluted smelly water laying down while using the entrance route which is harmful to the respiratory system and health in general.
Emmanuel, a Zikite, made his perspective known pertaining to the issue of fecal obstruction.“Yes, I believe the faecal obstruction could constitute a serious health hazard to the Zik community. This is so because there are various microbes ready to infest the stagnated sewage. The mere inhalation of such miasma is detrimental to health let alone the rainy climate all this could lead to a wide outbreak of an endemic”
He also added “My feeling is nothing but fear as I think of the likely devastating consequences of such a pathetic sight to behold for a hall of residence at the University of Ibadan and the 21st century. Such a sight brings to the fore the questions about the competence of administration.”
Speaking with a ZHPO correspondence,an awoite, who craved anonymity, expressed her frustration “I mean it’s stinking, it’ll reach some stages that it’ll definitely affect the health of people using it. Actually when I saw it the first day, I didn’t expect to see it the next day,I thought something must have been on it, this thing is lingering, definitely it can result to an outbreak of a disease because it is really really bad”
She also added“I felt like my life was in danger while passing it, imagine if my leg should enter, I don’t know what kind of soap to use to make myself clean again.”
Oreoluwa, an Idiate, commented stating“it’s disgusting, what if somebody falls inside, I was scared of falling inside while passing.”
Speaking with Covenant from Independence Hall, he explains “of course, I don’t feel good. If I count to and fro today,this is probably my sixth or eighth time passing it. Apart from the fact that it’s dangerous physically, this is a bank of infection, and it requires urgent attention, not something that should be postponed, I mean permissible, this shouldn’t last more than three days and it’s sad that it’s lasting longer.”
In a chat with hall management, the hall warden shed some lights on the issue, he had this to say “You see that thing is not water but sewage. We have contacted the USLB they said it is not their duty but maintenance. When I contacted the Maintainance Director, he said they will fix it but they will need labourers who will come from outside to fix it. They will be paid some amount of money. The hall management cannot afford the money to fix the stuff. I will get in touch with the Dean of students on the problem”.
Majority of Students using the route anticipate the response of the Hall management in providing urgent solutions to the damaged soakaway causing fecal obstruction at the Hall’s small gate.
