14th March, 2024
The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) have expressed willingness to collaborate towards achieving a cleaner Lagos environment that is pollution free and sustainable.
This is part of the efforts to rid Lagos State of pollution, emissions and other environmental infractions that may be injurious to human health and the ecosystem.
For this reason, the two agencies have agreed to strengthen collaborations that would help to monitor and protect the environment from pollution and other environmental violations that may have direct consequences on human health and the ecosystem.
This was part of the agreements reached on Wednesday during a meeting between the Officials of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency LASEPA led by its General Manager, Dr. Tunde Ajayi and representatives of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) led by Mr Emeka Uchendu, NPA’s Principal Manager, Health, Safety and Environment who represented the Acting General Manager Engr. Adekunle Adesona held at NPA Office, Marina Lagos.
At the meeting, LASEPA General Manager, Ajayi noted that there was the need for collaboration and mutual cooperation between LASEPA and NPA in various areas of environmental management so as to make the goal of a safe and sustainable environment possible in the State.
Ajayi who was accompanied to the meeting by top government officials from his agency, stressed the need for understanding and joint efforts in tackling environmental challenges in the State , noting that Lagos State government remains the first point of contact and respondent in any emergency situation, hence the need for proper enforcement of the State environmental regulations for protection of human life and the ecosystem.
“The purpose of this meeting is to explore opportunities for collaboration and mutual cooperation between LASEPA and NPA in various areas related to environmental sustainability , particularly tank farms management, issue of oil
spillage, Monitoring and Enforcement, submission of statutory reports; audit, environmental , contingency among other areas,” Ajayi explained.
He emphasized the importance of fostering synergy between LASEPA and NPA to effectively address environmental challenges and jointly ensure compliance with environmental regulations for a sustainable and cleaner Lagos.
While responding, the Principal Manager, Health Safety and Environment (NPA), Emeka Uchendu expressed the commitment of NPA to working closely with LASEPA to implement environmentally friendly practices that would promote the growth of a sustainable environment in an emerging smart city of Lagos.
He disclosed that NPA had embarked on some initiatives to further promote the growth of a clean and sustainable environment in the State, urging the State government to equally intensify efforts in its various advocacy programmes on market sanitation, tree planting, flood free Lagos, emission control, reduction in the use of non- biodegradable elements among other initiatives.
The meeting concluded positively with the two parties jointly agreeing to a 9–point workable resolutions; including; Common communication channels between LASEPA and NPA to bridge communication gap that may be hindering
efficiency in joint operations; Joint quarterly meetings between the two agencies, Inclusion of LASEPA in agencies committee meetings , Inclusion of LASEPA officials in Health , Safety and Environment (HSE) meetings , Jointly conducted surveillance operations along waterways , Joint stakeholders engagement and awareness campaigns , Collaboration on the use of LASEPA ISO certificated laboratory for analysis, Data sharing for environmental audit report as well as collaboration to allow NPA staff access LASEPA laboratory for knowledge sharing.