Environment
LAWMA Warns Against Indiscriminate Burning Of Refuse
The Lagos Waste Man
agement Authority (LAWMA) has warned citizens to desist from indiscriminate burning of refuse so as not to further pollute the environment.
This is contained in a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the LAWMA, Mr Lukemon Seriki, and made available to the Newsmen in Lagos.
The authority also warned the people to adhere strictly to the state environmental rules and regulation.
It stated that the warning became necessary in order to maintain high environmental standard and ensure cleaner, healthier, safer and disease-free Lagos in 2015.
The statement quoted Mr Ola Oresanya, the Managing Director of LAWMA, as appealing to residents to comply with Section 14 (a & b) of the Lagos State’s Environmental Sanitation Law.
The law states that “no person shall burn or cause to be burnt, waste of any description on a tenement, or dump waste at any place other than a waste disposal site.”
Oresanya warned that people should desist from the acts of refuse burning and other conducts that might ignite fire.
He listed such other conducts to include storage of combustible materials and illegal tapping of electricity, especially in this dry, dusty and combustion prone harmattan season.
The PRO stated that the law was clear as section 18, (1),(2),(3),(4),(5) stipulate penalties for anybody who contravened the law.
He also advised Lagosians to patronise only the assigned Private Sector Participant (PSP) operators for proper evacuation of wastes.
He reaffirmed LAWMA’s commitment to ensuring effective sanitation in all parts of the state.
While wishing residents a dirt-free and cleaner Lagos in 2015, he enjoined residents to contact the authority on its toll free lines 5577 or 07080601020 for any waste management challenges.
He assured that the customer care unit of the authority would be available 24 hours to address complaints and needs of the general public.
Director, Pollution Control, Ecological Funds Office, Mr Shaaibu Yakasai (left), in a handshake with the Deputy Director, Environmental Health Services Oyo State, Mr Jimoh Sabiu, at the public enlightenment on Medical Waste Incinerator Project of Ecological Funds Office in Ibadan last Thursday. With them is the Representative of Chief Medical Director, university college hospital, Dr Adefemi Afolabi
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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