The Executive Chairman of Ikeja Local Government Council, Comrade Akeem Olalekan Dauda (AKOD), on Saturday led the Executive, Management and Environmental Health staff of the Council to Alausa Ward for the monthly environmental sanitation exercise, reaffirming the administration’s commitment to a cleaner, safer and healthier Ikeja.
The exercise commenced at the canal along Awolowo Way, off Alade Market, where the Council team dislodged suspected miscreants and cleared makeshift structures erected within the canal corridor.
Expressing concern over the development, Comrade Dauda frowned at the continued illegal occupation of the canal and waterways, noting that the area had allegedly become a hideout for suspected criminals and a source of nuisance to residents and businesses within the community.
The Chairman assured residents that the Council would sustain efforts to reclaim the canal and other environmentally vulnerable areas from illegal occupants. He stressed that his administration remained determined to restore sanity, orderliness and environmental cleanliness across Ikeja Local Government.
From the canal, the Chairman led the team to Alausa, where members of the Alausa Community Development Association (CDA) joined the Council officials in the sanitation exercise.
As part of the inspection, Comrade Dauda and his team also visited a property acquired by the Council for the construction of a new 20-bed Primary Health Centre to serve residents of the community.
The Chairman directed the current occupants of the property to vacate the premises, stressing that the Council needed to take possession of the site to commence construction. According to him, the occupants had been issued an eviction notice since last year but had remained on the premises despite the directive.
He therefore gave the occupants a two-week ultimatum to vacate the already dilapidated structure, paving the way for the commencement of construction of the 20-bed Primary Health Centre.
Comrade Dauda commended the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for the reintroduction of the monthly environmental sanitation exercise, saying the initiative had significantly encouraged greater public participation in keeping communities clean.
He observed that since the exercise was reintroduced, advocacy, public awareness and compliance with environmental sanitation measures had increased across communities.
The Chairman further appealed to residents and other stakeholders to fulfil their civic obligations by paying their rates and taxes, noting that government revenue remained critical to the provision and maintenance of infrastructure, healthcare facilities, environmental services and other essential amenities for the benefit of the people.
He reiterated the commitment of his administration to working with residents, CDAs, community stakeholders and relevant agencies to sustain a clean, orderly and healthier Ikeja.
