Fashola Cancels Cleaning Exercise For Carnival

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State has cancelled the monthly environmental sanitation exercise to allow for celebration of his victory and that of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, candidates at the polls.

Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Muiz Banire said in a statement that the sanitation exercise was cancelled to allow people move freely to participate in the Lagos Water Regatta on Sunday.

“In view of the political climate in the country to which Lagos State is no exception, the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, has directed that the restriction of movement during the last Saturday of every month be suspended on 30 April, 2011,” Banire said.

Banire, who conveyed the approval of the governor, said after the general elections in the country and the consequent declaration of winners, there had been visible flurry of movements, across the state as jubilant Lagosians had been exchanging visits.

“This is expected to reach its peak at the weekend. The suspension order is to facilitate unrestricted movement and flow of traffic,” he stated.

Banire implored all citizens to ensure that the cleaning exercise is observed at their various domains, irrespective of the non restriction of movement.

He appealed that special attention should be paid to the desilting of drains to allow for free flow of storm water as metrologists had predicted that the heavy rainsr being witnessed would persist for some time.

“It is imperative that all drainage facilities are kept free of silts and refuse to avoid flooding of homes that could lead to the destruction of lives and properties,” he added.

He noted that the Lagos Waste Management Authority, LAWMA and Private Sector Participation, PSP, operators had been mandated to go round and collect refuse generated during the period of the exercise.

Banire stated that the Environmental Health Officers and men of the Kick Against Indiscipline, KAI, had been directed to visit tenements to ensure compliance with public health regulations and bring offenders to book.

— Kazeem Ugbodaga