Residents of Nalerigu, the North-East regional capital, have called for the sacking of their Municipal Chief Executive, Abdul Nasir Danladi, for failing to efficiently handle waste and provide portable water.  

The residents threatened to vote out the Member of Parliament for the area, Hajia Alimah Mahama, who doubles as the Local Government and Rural Development Minister if she does not heed to their calls.

Lack of sanitation facilities has compelled most households in the town to use unsafe and environmentally degrading methods to dispose of liquid and solid wastes.

Waste is dumped outside homes and in open spaces, including school compounds and marketplaces. Others also use these sites as places of convenience, which they say, may have serious effects on their health

These spaces have eventually grown into small hillocks of waste, regularly sweeping raw human feaces, sanitary products, condoms, and plastic wastes, into homes, gutters and sometimes into kitchens.

Filthy public toilets have been neglected for several years leaving traits of powerful stench in the air of neighbouring towns.

Speaking to JoyNews, some residents blame the situation on what they described as the incompetence of the MCE and have, therefore, called for him to be replaced. 

Others have appealed to authorities to evacuate the refuse dump and increase efforts to improve sanitation, by providing refuse containers and dustbins.

According to them, the failure of the MCE to act on several notices delivered to him shows he is incapable of running the municipal assembly. 

The MCE has declined to comment but JoyNews has learnt the Regional Mminister, Solomon Boar, summoned him over the situation.

The Member of Parliament, Hajia Alimah was also not available to comment on the threat to vote against her in 2020.

 Nalerigu, a place famous for trade, has a longstanding history of filth and health officials have on many occasions, warned of imminent danger.

There have been instances of cholera and diarrhea outbreaks in the area with malaria, malnutrition, and tuberculosis still the leading cases across health centers.

Health authorities are currently struggling to contain outbreak of an infectious scabies disease which has affected over 1,000 people in many rural villages.

Filthy toilets can cause skin ailments and urinary tract infections and faecal waste breeds over 200 viruses.