Climate Change: Lagos Seeks Informal Sector’s Cooperation

With the impact of climate change on Lagos State in terms of torrential rainfall, the Lagos State Government is seeking the cooperation of the informal sector to help mitigate the impact of global warming.

Activities of the informal sector such as mechanics, spare parts dealers, traders, vulcanisers, among others contribute over 50 percent to environmental degradation in the Lagos metropolis.

The need to seek the cooperation of this sector led the Lagos Ministry of the Environment to organise a one day Environmental Sanitation/Advocacy Campaign for the Informal Sector.

The theme of the event is; The Role of the Informal Sector in ensuring environmental sustainability and combating the impacts of climate change.

Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello at the event noted that the government, in its determination to prevent flooding had taken some proactive measures, including dredging of canals and that the people, particularly the informal sector which constitutes about 60 percent of Lagos economy must cooperate and support the government to do more.

“It is now time for all Lagosians to rise to the environmental challenges in Lagos by recognising that we are in one way or the other responsible for the environmental challenges currently being experienced in the state.”

He, therefore, solicited the support and cooperation of trade associations such as welders, tailors, mechanics, and hairdressers to complement government efforts by shunning bad environmental practices like dumping of waste engine oil, cooking on major highways and dumping of wastes into canals, among others.

As part of measures to mitigate the impact of flooding, he said the ministry had issued alert to people living in flood-prone areas, particularly residents of Agiliti, Isheri North, Owode Onirin and Mile 12, among others not to sleep with two eyes closed as the Ogun River has reached its peak, saying that with additional rainfall, residents might have to leave the area.

The commissioner added that “water has no border, no immigration and nothing can stop it as all rains in Osun and Ogun states ended up in rivers in Lagos”

Wife of the governor, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola, at the event praised the Early Warning Systems of the state on flood, saying that the state was moving forward and thinking ahead.

She implored the participants to be good environment ambassadors who would not only encourage good environmental practices but also volunteer information to the government on environmental abuse.

Fashola made reference to the developed world where despite the advancement in technology, flood was still a challenge, adding; “It is not a matter of whether we can do it better, it is because weather has changed all over the world as a result of climate change. Developed world with better channels experience more disasters at any flood event.”

She cautioned members of the public to be careful in the way they disposed their waste as government had invested so much in the environment through advocacy, planting trees and flowers, construction of drainage channels, improved waste management amongst others.

Speaking on Flood Management in Lagos State, the Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Services, Engr. Muyideen Akinsanya, noted that Lagos was usually flooded because it was on a flat plain whose rivers were inundated with rain water from Ogun and Osun rivers.