The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and Shomolu Local Government have agreed on re-introducing the monthly environmental sanitation on a voluntary basis. The exercise is slated for the last Saturday of every month between 7 am and 10 am, beginning from November this year.
Speaking at the stakeholders’ meeting where the agreement was reached, the Managing Director/CEO of LAWMA, Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni, disclosed that the current state of the environment in the Council neighbourhood is unsatisfactory, noting that residents should re-engage fully with the serving PSPs towards unimpeded service delivery.
He said that waste collection and disposal is not free anywhere in the world, hence the need for residents to take responsibility for their waste management and mobilise the youths of the area to police the blackspots for the desired results.
Odumboni said: “It is very important for all of us here to participate in ensuring that Shomolu is kept clean. It is a duty for you to ensure that your environment is always clean”.
“The solution to Shomolu’s challenge is the youth. Empower the youth and they will solve your waste disposal problem. You have a lot of able-bodied young men, deploy them to strategic places to police the blackspots. This is called local policing; it is a local solution to a local problem”, he asserted.
In his remarks, the LG Chairman, Mr. Abdul-Hamed Salawu, commended LAWMA’s determination to rejuvenate waste management in the area, admonishing the residents to live healthy and hygienic lives by keeping their environment clean and paying their waste bills for sustained PSP service.
He said: “A healthy environment is one that is sustainable for a long time and a source of a good life for everyone. Many of our actions and attitude to this planet has resulted in many environmental problems. Therefore, it is my duty to protect our environment and restore the aesthetics of Lagos State towards achieving our model city status”.
Also speaking, the Vice Iyaoloja-General of Shomolu, Alhaja Omobolanle Suleiman, commended LAWMA’s effort which has enabled a cleaner environment for markets in the Council area, appealing that the agency should be moderate and considerate in its proposed upward review of market billing for waste collection.
In his contribution, the Chairman of the PSP in Shomolu/Bariga, Mr. Olugbenga Adebola, enlightened the residents on waste sorting at source for recycling purposes.
Adebola encouraged them to sort out recyclable items for sale to off-takers, stressing that there is a huge economic opportunity in the so-called waste if properly managed.
In attendance at the event organised by LAWMA and held at the Council Secretariat, Oguntolu, were the Vice-Chairman of the LG, Mr. Adekunle Ibiyemi; a former Council Chairman, Mr. Mogbolahan and CDC Chairman, Mr. Adedapo Oduguwa.
Others include LAWMA’s Chief Technical Officer, Dr. Olorunwa Tijani; AGM Central I Operations, Mr. Jelili Alao; Head of Domestic PSP, Central I, Mr. Habeeb Savage and Head of Domestic PSP, Central II, Mr. Olumide Mumuney, among others.
