Cart pushers pose serious security challenges in Lagos-MD LAWMA

By Flourish Alonge

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni, has urged residents and business owners in the state to be on alert as findings have shown that cart pushers within the state are posing great security challenges.

Mr. Odumboni made this statement on Tuesday when he appeared as a special guest on Nigeria’s premium television news show, ‘Your View’ on Television Continental, TVC.

He warned that some of the cart pushers have been caught hiding machetes and other dangerous weapons under their carts.

He noted that the activities of cart pushers have become a great concern that must not be treated with kid’s gloves, adding that in the last 12 months, over 300 cart pushers have been prosecuted for constituting environmental nuisance and over 1000 carts destroyed.

“The activities of cart pushers in the state are harmful and detrimental to the environment. They pick waste from house A and dump it at house B or anywhere on the road and then go back to pick up more waste. For them, it is about the money they can make now and not the sanity of the environment. Most of them when accosted are neither Lagosians nor even Nigerians. They do not have a clear identity and also they go about with dangerous weapons hidden under their carts.

“We must pay close attention to this and act now to ensure the safety and security of all. This is why Lagos state has outlawed cart pushers and anyone found in this illegal business will be arrested and persecuted,” Odumboni said.

Responding to questions from both the interviewers and the phone-in-audience, the LAWMA boss stressed that the way out of the cart-pushing menace is for the people to have a change of attitude when it comes to waste management.

He explained further that until people get waste bins and begin to containerize their waste, the goal of a consistently clean Lagos will be difficult to achieve.

Furthermore, Mr. Odumboni stated that plans are already in place to implement other measures to ensure a seamless evacuation of waste at a faster and less expensive rate.

However, he asked that the people of Lagos cooperate with the government as well as exercise more patience to allow the PSPs to recapitalize and come up with lasting solutions, especially in areas that are not accessible by waste trucks.

“One of the key things we need to recognize is that when it comes to the environment, it is something that is recurrent and sustainability is key. Areas where cart pushers strive are where people do not do the right thing people need to change their attitude. I believe that if the cart pushers are not there the residents will conform.

“We have our construction waste team, we have a collaboration with physical planning, so LAWMA construction waste team is operational. If you have other types of waste, you can call us directly or speak to your assigned PSP. LAWMA has set up a special intervention team that steps in when any assigned PSP has capacity issues,” Odumboni stated.