Lamentations of Lagos street sweepers

Daniel Anokwuru

Street sweepers play a vital role in maintaining the hygiene of a city. They are usually exposed to a variety of risks, such as inhaling dust, toxins and carbon pollution, which makes them vulnerable to developing certain occupational diseases.

On Lagos roads, where it is almost normal for motorists to abuse traffic laws, street sweepers are endangered species. Moreover, motorists, who feel being unnecessarily delayed often haul abuses at them for daring to put up road signs to signify their presence at work. Their job would have been easier if the roads they are sweeping are in good condition. But the deplorable nature of some roads in the state has made the job more challenging and risky.

Mostly women, these street sweepers deserves better care. They stand on the highway, with vehicles speeding past and barely missing crushing these courageous workers, as they sweep the debris and sands from the road with meticulous care.  Ironically, the pay for this job does not worth the risk associated with it. However, owing to the unemployment  ravaging the country, they are still among the lucky few that have a job and have to endure since it allows them to feed their families.

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Nevertheless, many sweepers have lost their life in the process due to the recklessness of some drivers.  On May 29, this year, at Raji Crescent, Baruwa, Ipaja, Lagos, a mechanic, Chukwudi Nwite, knocked down and killed a 32-year old sweeper of the Lagos State Waste Management Agency (LAWMA), Abel Awe. Nwite was said to have driven his Toyota Highlander Jeep, with registration number, ABJ 296 DG, recklessly, causing the death of the victim. It was reported that he was reversing the vehicle when he crushed the deceased to death.

Also, on November 3, 2018, a road sweeper was killed by a driver along Osborne Road, Ikoyi, Lagos. It was reported that the driver ran over her after losing control of the vehicle, killing her instantly.

According to LAWMA report, between 2007 and 2010, 57 street sweepers were killed in car accidents while carrying out their duties.

There is urgent need for the state government to look into the plight of street sweepers in the state. This becomes imperative, considering the experience of one of the sweepers (names withheld). She was knocked down by a hit and run motorcycle (Okada) rider while on duty sometime this year. Our reporter visited the victim at her residence. Still reeling in pain, she told the reporter that the rider that knocked her down ran away. She further lamented that she has no money to seek for proper medical attention, stressing that she is still in serious pain but must resume work nonetheless because her supervisor would not want to see sand on the section allotted to her.

She said: “This is the third week I had the accident. I was working when an Okada rider driving against the traffic knocked me down and ran away. It was the people at the bus stop that assisted me. I got some drugs from the pharmacy. I am waiting for my July salary so I can seek proper medical treatment. I am still having internal pain all over my body. The spot they posted me is very dangerous. I don’t have any savings. From the monthly salary of N 18,500 they pays us, we buy our own rake, shovel, basket and other materials. It was only in December last year that they gave us rake.  I am just managing myself now. My husband was working in a company but they owed them salary for one year and he stopped the work. I want to manage my body to continue the work because our supervisor said that government does not want to see sand on the road.”

Our reporter also sighted another sweeper in front of Lagos State University, Ojo Campus, looking utterly confused. The mother of two from Ogun State watched, as vehicles and Okada riders exhibited all manner of recklessness on the road from her distance. She seemed to be wondering where to start from, or afraid would be knocked down.  When the reporter approached her, she lamented that she was thinking of how to start the day’s job, owing to the recklessness of drivers on the road. According to her, motorists abuse them on a daily basis and usually chase them away with their vehicle, irrespective of seeing road signs, placed on the road.

She said, “Working here is not easy. Look at how they are driving recklessly and against the traffic. If you start sweeping, they will be abusing you. Okada riders will throw away our road sign; if you complain, they start abusing you. We are praying that the government would come to our aid. Motorists sees us nobody. One of our members just had accident here. Government should also help us in providing working tools for us. We buy our tools from our salary. Before the month ends, the N 18,500 has finished. Even buying drugs is always difficult when we fell sick.”

Another sweeper corroborated the claims of her colleagues. She said they are were faced with death daily and lamented  the battle they face daily in the hands of motorists.

“It is a risk no one would want to take if one had alternative,” she said with resignation.

The reporter proceeded to Ipaja in Alimosho to observe if sweepers in the area face the same challenges.  From Obadore, down to Baruwa bus stop in Ipaja, it is a game of death. Sweepers were seen running away from commercial vehicles, irrespective of placing their alert signs in a good position on the road. Motorists seemed not to understand that road sweepers are human beings. They chased them away with their vehicles. At some spots, they knock away the road signs without concern.

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Mrs. Fatimo Rafiu, a mother of three, from Kwara State, said the work at Ipaja is also very risky. She maintained that commercial drivers abuse them a lot. She said each day she resumes work, she prays to God for protection from the reckless drivers because of what she encounters on the road daily. She described the situation as working between life and death and prayed that the state government would embark on a campaign that would enlighten motorists on careful driving for their own safety.

Several calls made to the cell phone of the Public Affairs Officer, Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC), Mrs. Alabira Rahmat, were not answered. Also, a text message sent to her by the reporter, inquiring if the street sweepers have life Insurance policy,  the state government’s stand on the recklessness of some motorists and why the sweepers had to provide their working tools from their meagre salary was not responded to as at the time of this report.