12th September, 2011
Residents of Lagos State, southwest Nigeria, have been urged to cultivate the habit of keeping their environment clean.
Mr. Ola Oresanya, Managing Director, Lagos Waste Management Authority, LAWMA, gave the advice while launching the Community Clean-up Campaign, 3C, in Makoko, Yaba Local Council Development Area, Lagos, over the weekend.
The initiative, according to LAWMA, involves the exploration of technical and human capacity in partnership with Community Development Associations, CDAs, community leaders, non-government organisations, NGOs and religious bodies, to evacuate refuse in slums and other parts of the state.
Oresanya said the objectives of 3C are creating awareness and educating members of the community on the importance of community health and its effects on the life of inhabitants, bringing sanitation closer to the grassroots and encourage communities to appreciate and respect their environment as part of their duty.
He said the initiative would reduce the challenges of flooding, as proper waste management has a great role to play in checking the menace, creation of jobs within the neighbourhood; as communities would engage street cleaners as support services as well as reducing health bills and engender longevity of residents.
The LAWMA managing director, however, said for the initiative to achieve the desired purpose, residents should support and patronise the PSP operators, stop patronising cart pushers, stop using waste to reclaim of sandfill land and desist from dumping refuse in the streets and backyards.
Otunba Olabisi , chairman of Makoko Community Development Association, CDA, and vice chairman, Community Development Committee, CDC, commended the agency for the. initiative and promised to keep up the tempo.
He appealed to the agency for more compactors to help residents in the proper disposal of waste.
—Paul Sanusi