Kehinde Adeleye
In the Lagos State Government’s ongoing efforts to promote sanitation awareness and hygiene practices, the Special Adviser on Environment, Mr. Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, revealed the government’s intention to introduce smart waste bins in every residential unit across the state.
The implementation of this initiative was announced during the weekly sanitation awareness and cleaning exercise held at Ajeromi Local Government, where Rotimi-Akodu emphasized that improper waste disposal is a significant contributing factor to the spread of communicable diseases.
Mr. Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, the Special Adviser on Environment, was joined by Mr. Gaji Omobolaji, the Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services, and Engr. Mahamood Adegbite, the Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Services, as they underscored the critical importance of maintaining a clean environment for the well-being of citizens. Akodu emphasized that the issue of a cleaner environment is a collective responsibility that requires the collaboration of both the government and its citizens.
Mr. Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, the Special Adviser on Environment, expressed his regret over the fact that Lagos State was among the states where Cholera broke out, attributing the outbreak to the unsanitary practices of some residents.
He further emphasized that the team’s weekly sanitation awareness and cleaning exercise was intended to change the mindset of the citizens and foster a culture of cleanliness in the environment.
“We want to work more with the people and raise the bar on good sanitary practices; we are ramping up our advocacy and sensitization to achieve a positive change and ideology of the people” he said.
He said the present Administration is deeply concerned about achieving a clean environment and wellbeing of the residents, but it is disheartening that most roads, road medians markets and motor parks across the metropolis were adorned with refuse dumped by residents who do not want to patronise PSP operators.
He added that from the stretch of Marine beach and Mobil Road towards Ajegunle boundary to Alayabiagba market, the roadside and road median were filled with heaps of wastes adding that the corpse of a baby was found on the roadside during the exercise, saying that now is the time for everyone to desist from the unwholesome act against the environment.
He recalled that the Alayabiagba market was closed last year because of the insanitary habits of traders saying the market is gradually deviating from the standards set by government after it was reopened.
He stated that reports gathered from the weekly Community Sanitation Exercise / Advocacy campaign has revealed that majority of the people are yearning for the return of the Monthly Environmental Sanitation Exercise across the state.
“We must therefore stop littering our market, and motor parks with wastes, we must bag our wastes in our respective market and homes and ensure we patronize PSP operators, stop creating illegal dumpsites on road medians, kerbs, open spaces, and road setbacks and start policing our environment”, he emphasized.
He appealed to the community leaders and market leaders present to educate the people on the dangers of dumping on the road median as was noticed along the stretch of Marine beach and Mobil Road in the axis.
The Managing Director, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin explained expatiated that the State Government would soon role out Smart Bins with notifications for all houses stressing that the chips attached to the bins would notify LAWMA when the PSP Operators fail to pick up wastes at the appropriate time.
He said safe, clean and sustainable environment is the function of all residents and not the government alone adding that everyone must make good sanitation practices a way of life and support the effort of the government.
In their responses, a cross section of the community leaders including the Baale, Babaloja of Ajeromi Ifelodun and CDC Chairman present all appealed to the State Government to reconsider the introduction of monthly sanitation exercise.
The clamored that in the very recent past most market and areas had waste police which prevented littering, adding more people need to be enlisted to become LAWMA policemen in our neighbourhoods.
The Special Adviser was also accompanied by the Managing Director LAWMA, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin; General Manager LASPARK, Mrs. Toun Popoola; KAI Marshal, Major Olatunbosun Cole (Rtd); General Manager, LASWMO, Engr. Adefemi Afolabi and some Directors from the ministry.
The team visited Mobil Road/ Apapa / Ajeromi / Ajegunle boundary and Alayabiagba market.
