State’s Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Babatunde Adejare, who spoke after an inspection tour of Lekki, frowned at the alarming rate at which people were allowed to deface the estate thereby degrading the environment. AFP PHOTO / PIUS UTOMI EKPEI
Disturbed by the large number of shanties erected by miscreants in prime estates, Lagos State Government has charged residents in the affected areas to be observant and protective of their immediate environment.
State’s Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Babatunde Adejare, who spoke after an inspection tour of Lekki, frowned at the alarming rate at which people were allowed to deface the estate thereby degrading the environment.
He stressed that the situation in which miscreants were allowed to erect shanties in the prime estate, dump refuse indiscriminately, block drainage channels and constitute nuisance to the neighborhood was unacceptable, stressing that the government would immediately enforce environmental laws to return normalcy.
The commissioner urged residents to promptly report illegal developments as they constitute grave dangers to the environment, saying the State Government would not rest on its oars in ensuring that Lagosians inculcate the habit of regular maintenance of their immediate environment as doing so is our collective responsibility.
He reiterated the State Government’s zero tolerance for environmental abuse, especially indiscriminate refuse dumping, drainage blockage, construction on waterways and drainage alignments, as well as building of shanties among others.
In a related development, Chairman of the Lekki Residents Association, Prof. Olumide Ajose has promised that the association would spur members of the community to cooperate with the State Government to stop all actions that were capable of degrading the Environment.
He thanked the Lagos State Government for its support in ensuring that the Lekki estate environment remained cleaner and healthier.
Prof Ajose extolled the new waste management initiative of the State Government , describing it as a major turning point in solid waste management in the State.
In a related development, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of the Environment, Mr. Abiodun Bamgboye, has stressed the need to create ample awareness about the Cleaner Lagos Initiative as a new direction in solid waste management.
Speaking at a stakeholders meeting at Ikorodu division, he said the State Government was committed to ensuring that Lagosians live in a healthy, cleaner and peaceful environment.
Bamgboye further advised Lagosians to support the initiative and collaborate with Lagos State Government by ensuring that they desist from indiscriminate dumping of refuse in unauthorized places and by maintaining regular surveillance of their environment.
He maintained that the initiative “would not only enhance the aesthetics of the State and alleviate poverty but would further improve the economy of Lagos State by bringing about a viable sub-sector of the economy.”
He urged market men and women, Community Development Associations (CDAs), Community Development Committee (CDCs) and artisans who were the participants at the meeting to embrace the CLI wholeheartedly and the help spread the gospel of the initiative to all and sun
