‘Cart Pushers Stay Banned’

Lagos State government has reaffirmed that the law banning cart pushers’ operation in the state is still very much in force.

Mr. Ola Oresanya, Managing Director, Lagos Waste Management Authority, LAWMA, disclosed this during an interactive session with pressmen on the activities of his agency and plans for the Eld-el-Kabir.

Oresanya said the state government’s declaration of zero tolerance for cart pushers’ activities in the state has been extended to those who patronize them. He stated that the business of cart pushing in Lagos State is contrary to the stipulated laws of the state.

The LAWMA boss disclosed that the state government has been magnanimous enough to offer employment to over 200 cart pushers who dropped the job in response to the government’s ban.

He, however, observed that a few recalcitrant ones are yet to conform, adding that cart pushers are responsible for most of the illegal dumping of waste in canals and road medians which causes flooding.

He stated that cart pushers are not an alternative to PSP operators and appealed that residents should not be tempted to patronize them.

Oresanya said, “The bills that LAWMA send out is very interactive and informative as it contains telephone numbers of principal officers who will respond to residents’ complaints swiftly and promptly.”

Speaking on the plan for effective and improved services within its six regions during the festive period, Oresanya disclosed that the 350 Private Sector Participants (PSP) Operators in the state will be distributing free trash bags to residents for ease of storage of extra waste that will be generated during the period.

He charged Lagos residents to desist from dumping waste indiscriminately on road medians and verges, but to patronize the assigned PSP operators in their areas.

He added that enough men and vehicles have been deployed to ensure adequate back-up for the PSP Operators, urging residents to call the Authority’s toll free lines 5577 or 07080601020 for any of their waste challenges for prompt attention.

Oresanya also charged the staff of the agency to justify the trust the state governor Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), has reposed in them by ensuring that they live up to expectations and prepare to ensure a hitch-free operation during the Ileya festival.

He stated that staff of the agency have been mandated to monitor their areas and report accordingly, adding that sanctions await PSP Operators that do not comply.

Also, Street Captains, LAWMA NYSC, CDA and CDC members were also charged to report any act that is capable of hindering the desired positive result during this festive season, while sweeping activities will go on as usual in the state as measures have been put in place with the sweepers to ensure that nothing hinders their activities.

The LAWMA boss appealed to residents to be alive to their responsibilities and shun acts likely to impact on the environment negatively but to maintain proper sanitary condition stressing that the task of achieving the desired clean and healthy environment is a collective responsibility.

—Paul Sanusi