2nd February, 2022
Mr Ibrahim Odumboni, the Managing Director/CEO of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has charged residents of Apapa and its environs, on a cleaner environment.
He urged them to take proactive steps towards ridding the environment of illegal dumpsites, and total eradication of reckless waste disposal practices.
Odumboni gave the charge at Apapa Local Government Secretariat during the inaugural stakeholders’ meeting and public sensitization with residents and other stakeholders.
According to him, residents can raise a formidable waste policing team, to enforce that objective.
The LAWMA boss said the time had come for the Authority to engage with residents and all stakeholders, to rid the council of filth and enthrone a new regime of cleanliness and sustainable environment.
“Apapa Local Government Chairman has been at the front burner of ensuring that this council gets rid of indiscriminate waste disposal.
“We will start by ensuring that a transfer loading station is sited at Apapa, once the Council Chairman can provide us with land for that purpose for easy evacuation of waste by PSP operators. This will increase the turnaround time and improve the aesthetics of the Local Government and environs.
“Operators in Apapa would adjust to a convenient timing, preferably at night, for now, to cart away refuse, due to the persistent traffic gridlock in this area.
“Residents and shop owners should also reciprocate by ensuring prompt payment of waste bills. It is important to facilitate the smooth running of the operations of the PSPs”, he said.
“It is high time the community incorporated local policing to checkmate the activities of cart pushers prevalent in Apapa. Ibeju-Lekki and Epe Local Governments have done this successfully.
“You can achieve this too by engaging your youths to man specific areas, notorious for a cart pushing business, to arrest the perpetrators. This is the way to go”, he added.
Meanwhile, he enjoined the people to shun indiscriminate dumping into canals and drainage channels, encouraging residents to key into recycling, by separating their waste at source, to make additional income.
Various stakeholders took turns to x-ray the situation and challenges, all concluding with a promise, to work towards achieving the ultimate objective of a clean and alluring Apapa Local Government.
Also in attendance were the Vice Chairman, Apapa Local Government, Alhaji Ganiu Ismail; Apapa APC Chairman, Alhaji Fatai Sanni; Executive Director of LAWMA; Mr, Kunle Adebiyi; senior management staff of the Authority; the PSP operators assigned to the axis; market leaders; CDA/CDC executives and other dignitaries.