Lagos raises alarm over refuse dumping in canals as sanitation drive intensifies
The Lagos State Government has warned residents against dumping refuse into canals and drainage channels, saying the practice undermines efforts to prevent flooding and maintain a clean environment.
The warning came during the October edition of the monthly environmental sanitation exercise on Saturday, where government officials observed residents disposing of waste indiscriminately into canals. The exercise was led by the First Lady, Dr. Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, in the Ajina area of Ikorodu, and the Head of Service, Mr. Bode Agoro, in Ikeja.
Speaking during the exercise in Ikorodu, the first lady urged residents to sustain the sanitation culture beyond the last Saturday of every month and work towards making the local government area the cleanest in Lagos State.
She stressed that continuous public sensitisation was necessary to change attitudes towards environmental cleanliness, urging residents to embrace proper sanitation practices in their homes, schools, markets and communities.
Mrs. Sanwo-Olu also commended residents, particularly children, youths, market traders and environmental sanitation workers, for participating in the exercise, noting that keeping Lagos clean was a collective responsibility.
Meanwhile, Agoro, who spoke with journalists after monitoring the exercise in Ikeja, said the October exercise was the seventh since March. He called on local government chairmen and their executives to intensify mobilisation efforts and encourage residents to maintain clean surroundings.
He disclosed that the government had notified the Ministry of the Environment about the canals obstructed by indiscriminate waste disposal, adding that plans were underway to reconstruct one of the canals in consultation with the relevant drainage authorities. However, he warned that such interventions would achieve little if residents continued dumping refuse into waterways.
Similarly, the Chairman of Ikeja Local Government, Mr. Akeem Dauda, said the council had been sensitising communities against indiscriminate waste disposal. He also commended Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for sustaining the monthly exercise, which covered Onilekere Street, Saidu Street, Olumo Street, Ijesha Close and Olúkòyí Street. The state government has also introduced a sanitation competition among the 20 local government areas and 37 local council development areas to encourage environmental cleanliness, with the cleanest council expected to receive recognition. The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Strategy, Mr. Tunbosun Ogunbanwo, and some COWLSO members also participated in the exercise.
