LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT REFUNDS 145 FORMER SUBSCRIBERS OF EGAN HOUSING ESTATE
admin - Govt to distribute smart bins to tenements
By Oyebola Owolabi
Residents of Ajeromi Local Government Area of Lagos State have called on the Lagos State government to return the monthly environmental sanitation exercise as a way to ensure a clean state.
They made the appeal yesterday during the ongoing weekly sanitation awareness and cleaning exercise led by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s Special Adviser on Environment, Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu.
The Baale, Babaloja and CDC appealed to the State Government to reconsider the introduction of monthly sanitation exercise.
They also clamored for a return of waste police to prevent littering and indiscriminate waste disposal. “More people need to be enlisted to become LAWMA policemen in our neighbourhoods to prevent environmental lawlessness,” they said.
Rotimi-Akodu, in his response, said the government will introduce smart bins for every tenement to curb indiscriminate waste disposal ‘which is a major contributor to prevalence of communicable diseases’.
He noted that the smart bin has become necessary to monitor the effectiveness of PSP operators and also tenements towards refuse disposal and payment.
He said: “We are here at Ajeromi and what we see is appalling. We will 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.
“The stretch of Mobil Road to Alayabiagba/Boundary Market is filthy and people are comfortable in it. This means we have a lot to do in advocacy so we can change the people’s psyche about environmental hygiene. It seems they are used to living in filthy environments and we need to change that mindset and ideology.
“That is why this sensitisation where top officials of the ministry also take part in clearing refuse has a far reaching positive impact because if they see us in action, it will communicate with them that they should also participate. They will understand that waste and filth should not be indulged. “Advocacy is not just talking, but participating in the action, leading the path, and then they will have no excuse but to join the train. We have to get the people involved in the drive to maintain a clean tidy hygienic environment.
“The people have also said they want the government to restore the monthly sanitation exercise. This feedback shows that we are on the same page on the need to maintain a clean environment.
“The Baale mentioned that Lagos was not this dirty when the sanitation exercise was being held. It goes to show that they now see the need because we cannot impose it on the people. We want them to see and understand the need. It further goes to show that it’s a thing of the mind, once we declare that day for environmental sanitation, people are already wired to this time and look forward to it.
“We will deliver their message to Mr. Governor and follow things through. We are also planning to deploy smart bins to monitor the effectiveness of LAWMA/PSP operators, and even residents’ response to dropping off their waste and payment. It will help us gauge performance of officials and the residents alike.
“I can assure you that the government will not rest until efforts to sanitise and purify our environment yield good results.”
Managing Director of LAWMA Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegeshin said chips attached to the bins would notify LAWMA when the PSP Operators fail to pick up waste at the appropriate time.
He reiterated that a safe, clean and sustainable environment is the function of all residents and so everyone must make good sanitation practices a way of life and support government’s efforts.
Akodu was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary (Environmental Services) Gaji Omobolaji; Permanent Secretary (Drainage Services) Engr Mahamood Adegbite; LASPARK General Manager Mrs. Toun Popoola; KAI Marshal, Maj. Olatunbosun Cole (rtd); General Manager, LASWMO, Engr. Adefemi Afolabi and other top ministry officials.
The team visited Mobil Road/ Apapa / Ajeromi/Ajegunle boundary and Alayabiagba market.
