As evening settled over Adesakin Layout in Awe, Oyo State, the neighbourhood appeared calm at first glance. The quiet street, lined with a mixture of old and newly constructed buildings, gave little indication of the environmental crisis confronting residents every day.
A few steps into the community, however, revealed a different reality. A strong chemical odour hung in the air, becoming more noticeable closer to the drainage channel that runs through the area. The smell, residents say, has become a constant reminder of an environmental problem they have lived with for years.
The community is grappling with a worsening water crisis allegedly caused by industrial chemical waste discharged into a nearby waterway. As a result, many residents have abandoned wells that once served as their primary source of water, fearing contamination and possible health risks.
Visible cracks line sections of the drainage channel, while chemical residues can still be seen along its edges. Residents believe the pollutants originate from a nearby manufacturing facility, Bond Chemical Industries Ltd., whose wastewater is channelled through the drainage system running beside several residential buildings.
For those living along that stretch of the community, the impact has been severe. The drainage channel serves as the only outlet for wastewater from the factory, leaving homes closest to it exposed to the effects of the chemical discharge.
David, a long-time resident of the community, said the factory has operated in the area for more than a decade and that complaints about its environmental impact have persisted over the years.
According to him, residents living on the side of the road closest to the drainage have borne the greatest burden, with many forced to travel considerable distances each day to obtain clean water for drinking, cooking and other domestic activities.
He explained that several wells which once supplied water to households have become unusable due to fears of contamination.
Environmental studies have consistently shown that untreated industrial waste containing heavy metals and hazardous chemicals can seep into underground water sources. Such contamination may expose communities to long-term health risks, including damage to the nervous system, internal organs and other serious medical conditions if consumed over extended periods.
Further inquiries within the neighbourhood painted an even more troubling picture.
At one residence located close to the affected drainage channel, a father identified as Folorunsho described how life has changed for his family since the pollution worsened.
Holding his young child, he explained that the well serving his household and several neighbouring homes could no longer be trusted because of the suspected contamination.
He said residents who recently moved into the area, including corps members posted to the community, often struggled to adapt to the situation, while longtime residents had little choice but to adjust to the daily hardship.
According to him, the condition of the water has deteriorated significantly since the factory resumed full operations.
He recalled that there was a time when the water could still be used for washing clothes and bathing despite concerns about its quality. Today, however, residents say it has become completely unusable, forcing families to search elsewhere for clean water.
Folorunsho said obtaining safe water has become part of his daily routine, requiring him to walk long distances to fetch water that his family can safely use.
For many households in Adesakin Layout, access to clean water has become both a financial and physical burden. What was once readily available within their compounds has now become a scarce resource, increasing the cost of daily living and raising concerns about public health.
Residents are calling for urgent intervention to investigate the source of the contamination, restore safe water supplies and ensure that environmental regulations are strictly enforced to protect communities from industrial pollution.
As concerns continue to grow, families in the area remain caught between the need to access clean water and the fear of exposing themselves to potentially harmful contaminants that threaten both their health and livelihoods.
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