Environment
FCT Cautions Landlords Over Unhealthy Environmenta
The Gwagwalada Area Council in the FCT has warned landlords in the area to provide toilets in their houses or be ready to face prosecution ..
Alhaji Usman Yahaya, the Secretary of the council issued the warning in an interview with correspondent Gwagwalada last Thursday.
Yahaya said the warning became necessary as it had been observed that many people get infected with gastroenteritis at the inception of every rainy season due to the consumption of water.
The Tide learnt that some landlords in the council recently appeared before a Gwagwalada Magistrate Court over failure to comply with sanitation laws.
Yahaya said that the court summons were served on the landlords for failure to provide toilets for their households and deliberate blockage of drains.
He said that the summons served on the landlords and their consequent appearance before the court was a demonstration of the council’s commitment to issues bordering on sanitation.
“If you go round, you will discover that most of our drains have been blocked and 80 per cent of houses within this area are without toilets.
“We have been trying to educate the people on the need to maintain a healthy environment so as to avoid the outbreak of diseases.
“Since they are not ready to comply, the next option for us is to commence enforcement of sanitation laws and that is why so many of them are being served with court summons. “
Meanwhile the FCT has also condemned the spreading of clothes on balcony railings along highways, bridges, railings on landscaped sites, walkways and other public spaces in the capital territory.
“It noted that many public buildings, offices, bridges and residential buildings along major highways in the FCT as well as some private and government buildings, have been turned into drycleaner lines for spreading washed clothes along many highways and inner streets”, it said.
A statement from the area council also observed that, the fact was most noticeable in areas where there were concentrations of mechanic workshops as well as drainage alignments.
It advised the people of the Gwagwalada Area Council to spread their washed clothes within the confines of their homes.
The statement advised landlords who engaged private corporate security guards, who have also been found to be involved in the act, to henceforth desist from such.
It urged such landlords to enlighten and educate their tenants and their employees on the implications of this unaccepted act, stressing that the government would not hesitate to apply the full sanction of the state’s sanitation laws on such culprits.
“This Villages Culture’ does not only deface our environment, but also destroys the aesthetics and the green culture being promoted by government across the FCT.
“This retrogressive culture is archaic and should never be tolerated in any part of the FCT as the massive regeneration and ongoing transformation is to make Abuja model mega-city.
“The general public is hereby notified and warned that perpetrators of this uncivilised act will not only forfeit such clothes to the Motherless babies homes and Orphanages, but may also be prosecuted, in accordance’s with the state’s Sanitation Laws,” it added.
The Lagos State Government has commenced installation of new pumps at the Iju Headworks and Akute water intake stations.
The Tide source reports that the project is aimed at increasing water production, improving operational efficiency and expanding access to potable water across the state.
A statement issued by the Lagos Water Corporation (LWC) over the weekend said the project was approved and funded by the state government.
It said the installation was part of the rehabilitation of the Iju Headworks and Akute Intake Station under Lots 1, 2 and 3.
According to LWC, the rehabilitation is designed to modernise water production facilities, strengthen operations and improve public water supply.
The Network of Female Professionals in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Nigeria (FEMinWASH) and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) are set to partner on gender-responsive systems strengthening, capacity development and WASH initiatives.
The partnership was proposed during a courtesy visit by a FEMinWASH delegation, led by its President and Convener, Dr Boluwaji Onabolu, to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, in Abuja.
Onabolu, who conveyed greetings from FEMinWASH Patron, retired Engineer Ebele Okeke, commended Walson-Jack for upholding the Federal Civil Service’s EPIC values of Efficient, Productive, Incorruptible and Citizen-centred leadership.
She praised the HoCSF’s efforts in advancing gender inclusion in WASH and the civil service, including the development of the National Gender in Water Resources Mainstreaming Policy and mentoring programmes for women leaders.
Onabolu also highlighted the INSPIRE (Inclusive Network for Supporting Progressive Leadership, Innovation, Reform and Equity for Women) programme, aimed at strengthening women’s leadership and inclusion.
She said FEMinWASH was seeking a formal partnership and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the OHCSF to support INSPIRE, WASH advocacy, capacity building and the institutionalisation of Gender-Responsive Budgeting across the Federal Civil Service.
Responding, Walson-Jack commended the diverse expertise of the FEMinWASH delegation, noting that professionals in WASH, water resources, environment, public health, town planning and education were critical to addressing development challenges.
She welcomed the proposed partnership, assuring that the OHCSF was ready to collaborate with FEMinWASH on civil service strengthening and WASH-related initiatives.
The meeting agreed to further engagements with Dr Garba, Permanent Secretary (Special Duties), and Ms Funke Baruwa, Lead for Partnerships at the OHCSF, to advance the collaboration.
The visit ended with a photo session and exchange of gifts between both parties.
The Special Adviser on Environment, Mr Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, commended the community on the massive turn-out for sanitation.
He also appreciated the chairman and his team for their support to the ministry.
Rotimi-Akodu urged the community to continue to support the council and by extension, the government, by participating in the exercise and engaging in proper disposal of wastes.
“We have heard your appeal, and I assure you that Lagos government will do something about it.
“Although we have PSP operators in this axis, maybe they were assigned to other areas.
“However, I will ensure something is done and residents will observe the improvement.” the advisor said.
Also, the Managing Director, Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LASMA), Mr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, said that waste management was a collective exercise.
Gbadegbesin, therefore, appealed to the residents to always dispose of their wastes properly.
“You must bag your waste at home. Make sure you have a bin to keep the waste for few days, even if there is a delay by the PSP operator.
“Make sure you pay your PSP operator on time because there is no way they can provide that service if you are not paying them regularly.
The Non Governmental Organization (NGO) Go Green Nigeria Foundation, , has called for more stringent government efforts toward prohibition of illegal sand mining in Rivers, following erosion threats.
The founder of NGO Dr John Babington made the call on last Monday in Umuechem, Etche Local Government Area of Rivers, to commemorate the International Day for the Conservation of Mangrove Ecosystems.
Babington, who sensitised the community on dangers associated with crude sand mining, donated some trees as part of efforts to promote tree planting and revitalisation of the altered mangrove ecosystem.
During an interactive session with the community, the environmental expert identified various concerns and commended residents for their willingness to work together to end the excavation.
He, however, dismissed the notion that illegal sand mining was due to poverty and unemployment, saying, ”the business is a capital intensive venture that could only be operated by a rich cartel.”
He said that though the business might have provided menial jobs for few youths, it had not in any manner addressed poverty.
Presently, the landscape is altered with an artificial river encroaching a major access road and threatening public safety,” he said.
Also speaking, a senior Chief in the community, Chief Gilbert Otamiri commended the NGO for the initiative and promised to collaborate with them.
Gilbert, however, urged the government to tackle unemployment which, he said, was a major promoter of the illegal excavation
Also speaking, The Community Development Chairman (CDC) Mr Agbam Mgbechi thanked the group for the sensitisation and donation of trees.
He called on the government and concerned induviduals to emulate the group by making efforts towards salvaging the area from further environmental damage.
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