Environmental Sanitation: Lagos meets with LG, LCDA bosses

The Lagos State Government on Tuesday convened a meeting of selected Executive Council members of all 57 Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas to get their buy-in and support for the smooth take off and sustenance of the re-introduced monthly Environmental Sanitation Exercise.

This was just as the council bosses, led by Conference 57 Chairman, Hon. Sesan Olowa, promised their maximum support for it.

Addressing the strategic meeting held at Alausa CBD on the Modalities for the Success of the re-introduced Monthly Environmental Sanitation exercise, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, stated that everyone must  collaborate to achieve a cleaner, flood free, and sustainable environment.

The Commissioner recalled that last month, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu held a symbolic launch of the Monthly Environmental Sanitation, with the exercise serving as a means to enlighten Lagosians to look inwards, find creative ways to solve what has become an existential problem.

Wahab said: “Except we choose to play the ostrich, we have to say to one another that municipal solid waste generated in Lagos, which is about 13,000/14,000 tonnes per day, is becoming a major challenge in respect to how we dispose and cart our waste.”

He said the State and Local Government Areas must synergise to bring back the culture of consistent sanitation, which the monthly sanitation symbolises, adding that the government cannot allow waste and sanitation issues to overrun a mega city like Lagos.

The Commissioner reminded that every Thursday between 7am and 10am, all markets across Lagos  participate in an Environmental Sanitation Exercise to clean their environment, adding: “If the markets, being the crux of every economy, can undergo this process, it should be easy to escalate the exercise to our homes.

“Some part of their time is the indulgence we are seeking to get from our citizens.

“And we cannot get that indulgence without the concurrence of our local governments.

“We also believe the local government structure is the easiest way to have their buy-in.”

Wahab said Lagos is moving from the linear waste system (pick and drop) to a system where waste becomes a resource.

He said as such, all LGAs and LCDAs must collaborate with the state to tackle all environmental issues in order to reduce the quantum of waste that end up at the landfills.

He stated that on designated environmental days at the end of the month, Lagos State Executive Council members, Local Government Chairmen and other state officials will be assigned to areas to supervise and monitor the exercise statewide, while the Ministry will also put together a monitoring team to ensure enforcement while it is on.

He said the Ministry will work together with the LGA/LCDA to put together an Award  Ceremony to recognise the Cleanest LGA/LCDA Government on a monthly basis with a hint that a substantial amount will be attached as a form of competition and appreciation, adding that the event will be publicised in the media.

He said the state will ensure that the PSP waste operators continue to function in their waste collection processes, revealing that the state from time to time intervenes through LAWMA to assist them.

He charged all the LG Chairmen to ensure that they educate residents in their vicinity about the dangers of improper waste disposal, disposing wastes on open spaces, on the roads, median, drainages, and canals amongst others. 

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs, and Rural Development, Hon. Bolaji Roberts, sought the support of the chairmen in order to ensure the success of the re-introduced monthly Environmental Sanitation Exercise. 

Roberts urged the chairmen to Collaborate with State Government, own the initiative, and ensure the consensus of people in their community in order to record immense gains in the area of cleanliness and good sanitation practices. 

In his speech, the Chairman Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on the Environment and Member representing Lagos Island Constituency II, Hon. Lanre Afinni, said regular engagement with the local government chairmen should take place on a  quarterly basis.

Afinni said LGA/LCDA chairmen are expected to engage the CDAs, traditional rulers, and people in their community in order to get their buy-in.

Olowa, the Chairman of Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area, who summed up the different presentations of his colleagues, expressed appreciation for convening the meeting, pledging the support of all the 57 chairmen.

He said they will continue to work to ensure a cleaner and sustainable environment in Lagos State through proper waste management.

He said each local government should put up an enforcement arm that will monitor and ensure compliance to the exercise. 

Present at the meeting were the Special Adviser on the Environment, Engr. Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu; Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Services, Engr. Mahamood Adegbite; and Permanent Secretary, Local Government. Chieftaincy Affairs, and Rural Development, Kikelomo Bolarinwa.

Others were MD, Lagos State Water Corporation, Engr. Mukhtaar Tijani; MD, LASAA, Prince Fatiu Akiolu; GM LASPARK, Adetoun Popoola; KAI Corps Marshal, Major Olatunbosun Cole; GM, LASWMO, Engr. Adefemi Afolabi; GM LASEPA, Dr. Tunde Ajayi; Executive Director Finance at LAWMA, Kunle Adebiyi, and other Directors from the Ministry and its Agencies.