The Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) has sealed a residential building in Aba after officials discovered more than 100 bags of human excreta stored on the premises.

The agency announced the development on Tuesday in a post on its Facebook page, identifying the property as House 16, Ibadan Street, Aba, and describing the discovery as a serious public health concern.

According to ASEPA, officials also found four basins containing human excreta in the corridor of the building.

Sewage pit found beneath bed

The agency said a sewage tank had been discovered inside one of the downstairs rooms, directly beneath a bed used by occupants.

A video shared alongside the statement showed officials removing tiled floor slabs in what appeared to be a living room.

A large pit was found beneath the slabs, apparently designed for sewage collection. The room was furnished, with clothes hanging on the walls, indicating that it was being used as a living area.

ASEPA said the occupants were aware of the situation.

“This is not merely an environmental violation; it is a serious public health concern capable of triggering an epidemic if left unchecked,” the agency said.

The agency said the premises were sealed on August 18 pursuant to a court order and would remain closed until the necessary corrective measures had been completed.

Calls for further investigation

The discovery has prompted questions from residents and social media users about why human excreta were being collected and stored at the property.

Some commenters called on the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation to establish the purpose for which the waste was being kept.

“Proper investigation should be carried out to know what they are using it for, it’s not only sealing it,” Imo Alex wrote.

Another commenter, Kingsley Obiora, suggested that the material could have been intended for agricultural purposes.

“Na manure oh! Maybe they want to use it in their farms,” he stated.

Ifeoma Enwerem similarly suggested that it could potentially be used as pig feed, farm manure or for fish-feed production.

Another commenter, Giraffes Arts, said human waste could have legitimate reuse applications, including biogas production and fish farming.

However, ASEPA's statement focused on the environmental and public health implications of the conditions discovered at the premises.