Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has reassured residents of its firm commitment to a clean environment despite the challenge of diesel scarcity, while also appealing to them to bag and containerise their waste.
The Managing Director/CEO of LAWMA, Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni, who gave this indication while monitoring the environment, stated that efforts were being intensified to clear any backlog of refuse, and to stop acts of indiscriminate waste disposal.
Odumbomi explained that the agency has redoubled its efforts and is working round the clock to ensure the evacuation of wastes anywhere around the city.
He said, “Although the scarcity and high cost of diesel has been a major challenge, with all service providers’ trucks running on diesel, nonetheless, we are doing the needful and leaving no stone unturned, to maintain a clean environment and prevent health hazards to the people”.
“Over preceding months, we have rolled out advocacy and media sensitisation campaigns, to inform and educate residents on the importance of environmental cleanliness, particularly the act of waste containerisation. We have also supported efforts of Private operators, by providing backup services in areas that experienced service gaps, with the overall aim of eradicating black spots across the metropolis”.
He appealed to residents to properly bag and containerise their waste to allow more storage periods and prevent littering.
According to him, “The resurgence of waste observed in some areas of the metropolis is borne out of the unforeseen diesel challenges the service providers are experiencing, and since tenements cannot keep waste in their houses, have resorted to bringing it to the highways, which isn’t proper.”
“While we strongly reiterate the importance of waste containers at home, we passionately appeal and canvass for public cooperation, to combat a resurgence of waste on road medians, canals and other illegal spots.”
“We are assuring Lagosians of our total commitment to rid the environment of dirt. As we work day and night to make this happen, we urge you to support our efforts because the cleanliness of the state is a collective responsibility”, he stressed.
Massive rehabilitation
LAWMA Boss further stressed that despite the serious logistics challenges faced by Private operators, as a result of the increase in the price of diesel, they had continued to provide services to tenements, adding that the Authority, in order to ensure effective turnaround time of waste collection trucks, had also ensured that landfills in the state are in proper shape.
He said that the agency had carried out massive rehabilitation work across various landfills, to improve the turnaround time of trucks servicing tenements and commercial facilities in the state and this according to him has improved the condition of the sites, paving way for seamless waste collection activities.
Olusola Akintonde
