Lagos sets to employ 27,500 community sanitation officers

The Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Babatunde Adejare disclosed this at the monthly press briefing of the ministry held on Tuesday.

Adejare said the Environmental Sanitation Officers would be posted to serve in the community they normally reside.

He maintained that the officers would be fully kitted and equipped to sweep the inner streets and take care of vegetal nuisance in their communities.

According to him, “this initiative will further guarantee the vision of the Lagos Sate Government’s commitment to the realization of a sustainable and habitable environment.”

The Commissioner informed that the year 2017 promised to be very eventful as it marked the commencement of the Cleaner Lagos Initiative, envisaged to take solid waste management to a greater level in the State. He also informed that Government had plans to create an environmental sanitation corps cadre so as to enhance the enforcement of the State.

“As we await the new horizon in solid waste management which is characterized by the infusion of technology, resources and technical know-how as well as creation of jobs for multitude of the unemployed, we remain undaunted in ensuring massive evacuation of wastes, cleaning and clearing of drainages/canals, beautification of the environment and enforcement of pollution control measures”.

Adejare also stated that refuse generated in the state was on the increase due to the influx of people into the state which is at the ratio of 80people per hour.

He said the government was poised to intensify advocacy and enlightenment, especially to sensitize waste generators on the value of solid waste and the need for sorting.

“We need to let our people know that refuse now has commercial value, refuse can be bailed and exported like every other commodity and can also be used to generate power” he said.

On the scorecard of his ministry in the area of Waste Management, the Environment Commissioner stated that “Within the month of January, a total of 33,338.00 metric tons of waste was evacuated from highways and other public places in Lagos, while a total of 135,406.00 metric tons of refuse were deposited in various dumpsites across the state.

“To control environmental nuisances/ infractions noticed across the State, a total of 122 nuisance abatement notices in 194 locations across the 20 Local Governments Areas, while continued advocacy and enlightenment was sustained to re-orientate people towards positive environmental behaviour”.

He restated government’s commitment to ensuring the smooth delivery of potable water supply to Lagos metropolis and its environs, “Government has commenced the process of the Award of contract for the construction of Adiyan Water Treatment Plant Phase II with 70MGD capacity which is to benefit a population of about 3,000,000 people. Similarly, the State Government has given approval for Development of 100mgd Odomola II Water Treatment and Distribution Network Project to commence on Public Private Partnership mode”.

He also stated that the Ministry progressed with its landscaping and beautification projects propagating 5,458 local and Indian plant at LASPARK nurseries in Oko-Oba,Agege and Erikorodo-Ikorodu.