13th July, 2010
In its drive to sustain a cleaner and healthier environment, the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has charged residents using refuse for reclamation of land to desist from such practice or risk seizure of the land by the state government.
The Managing Director of LAWMA, Mr. Ola Oresanya, disclosed during a chat with P.M.NEWS, that it has become a common practice for people to convert open land space into illegal dumpsite or use refuse for reclamation of such land.
Mr. Oresanya charged Lagos residents to desist from such act or get their lands forfeited. Stressing that the practice is a great offence that contravenes the Environmental Sanitation Law, adding that the State will no longer hesitate to acquire such lands.
He noted that LAWMA had in the past evacuated the heaps of refuse dumped in open spaces and unfenced land around the state while also embarking on enlightenment campaign to educate people on the need to desist from such practices which he noted is capable of endangering the lives of those living in the area.
On measures put in place to reduce waste, the LAWMA boss disclosed that the agency has inaugurated a recycling bank which will be used in eateries, shopping malls and other designated places within the state.
“LAWMA is planning to have 1,000 units of such recycling banks, which eventually will solve the problem of scavengers at the landfill and would make them to be more detailed and stationed once they are registered as a recycler in Lagos.â€
He said that it is in order to discourage indiscriminate dumping of refuse within the state that LAWMA is advocating that tenements procure waste bins for the storage of their waste.
—Paul Sanusi