LASG charges residents on friendly waste management culture
The Lagos State Government on Thursday charged the citizens to change their attitude to waste management and disposal to collectively achieve a sustainable environment.
Speaking while featuring on a television interview programme and an X Space live about the viral insinuation of a smelly city, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab reiterated that proper waste disposal culture is an intentional behaviour that must be adhered to by all concerned.
Wahab said most cosmopolitan cities around the world have specific areas that emit offensive odours such as New York, Beijing and London amongst others, saying Lagos is not an exception but this can only be experienced around the landfill sites at Olusosun in Ojota and Solous III in Igando area.
The Commissioner said Lagos generates between 13,000 to 14,000 tonnes of waste daily, highlighting that Lagos has creatively proffered ways to reduce the quantum of waste that ends up at the Landfill sites.
Wahab said the state is in the process of decommissioning the dumpsites at Olusosun and Soulous III, adding that the approach of waste segregation from waste generated will go a long way to minimise the number of waste that will end up at the Landfills sites.
He mentioned that for almost two decades, the Government has enabled the private sector to come into the waste collection process with the State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) as the regulator, noting that some challenges are experienced in the process as homeowners always try to circumvent the payment system by engaging in illegal waste disposal.
The Commissioner said the state is continually ramping up its Advocacy to educate homeowners and market leaders and also enforce when necessary, adding that arrest and prosecution will also be made according to the environmental laws of the State.
Wahab averred that the State Government has deepened its collaboration and relationship with the Local Governments to ensure that they carry out their responsibility of effecting cleanliness in the market space and tertiary drains.
