The Managing Director/CEO of Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Mr Ibrahim Odumboni, has charged residents of Itire-Ikate area of Lagos, to take full responsibility for their environment, by ensuring proper waste disposal.
Mr Odumboni, who was represented by LAWMA’s Executive Director, Finance, Mr Kunle Adebiyi, made this call on Tuesday during the community advocacy and sensitisation programme at Itire-Ikate Local Council Development Area.
He admonished residents to imbibe a lifestyle of keeping their surroundings clean at all times, which would go a long way in helping the state government achieve its vision of establishing a consistently clean environment, and eliminating health hazards.
The LAWMA boss called on people in the area to patronise assigned PSP operators and pay their waste bills promptly, as the Authority remained totally committed to building an environment-friendly cityscape for all Lagosians.
According to him, “The importance of this programme is to ensure proper sensitisation on a cleaner environment. I will urge you all to improve on making your surroundings clean, for a better Lagos. Do not patronise cart pushers, pay your waste bills promptly, to help PSPs serve you better. We also expect the legislative arm to come up with bye-laws for enforcement on environmental offences”.
Responding, the Local Government Chairman, Hon. (Dr.) Ahmed Olanrewaju Apatira, represented by the Secretary to the Local Government Area, Hon. Kehinde Baruwa, eulogised LAWMA and the state government on their efforts at ensuring environmental sustainability, as well as carrying along with local governments in the scheme of things.
Hon. Hammed Idris Oladipupo, leader of the legislative arm of the council, called on residents to join hands with the government for a better environment, adding there would be a new bye-law in Itire-Ikate LCDA, which would include community waste policing and enforcement, to support efforts of LAWMA in the state.
On his own part, the Chairman of the Community Development Committees, Mr Otunba Dupe, commended PSP operators in the area for excellent service delivery, while his Community Development Association counterpart, Mr Francis Focadus, called for attitudinal change among people living there, to achieve the objective of a cleaner and healthier environment.
The advocacy exercise is a continuation of the Authority’s statewide sensitisation campaign, targeted at informing, educating and sensitising the populace, especially people at the grassroots, on best waste management practices and the dangers of indiscriminate waste disposal.
