★ Ogun shuns monthly environmental sanitation for empowerment of OGWAMA
★ LAWMA sacks street sweepers, service provider over indiscriminate waste dumping in Lagos
By Foluso Adelaja, Editor
Ogun State Government says it is not considering re-introduction of Monthly Environmental Sanitation Exercise in the State, but will rather invest more in waste management equipment for a cleaner, healthier and safer environment and in a related development, the Lagos Waste Management Authority, LAWMA, has disengaged a number of street sweepers, their supervisors and the service provider overseeing their operations following allegations of indiscriminate waste disposal in parts of the state.
Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun revealed the decision of the state to invest more on waste management equipment for a cleaner, healthier and safer environment when he inspected and commissioned waste management equipment, operational vehicles and office block acquired by the incumbent Special Adviser and Managing Director of the Ogun State Waste Management Authority (OGWAMA), Hon. Farouk Akintunde, in Abeokuta to mark his 6 months in office.
Represented by the Commissioner of Environment, Dr. Ola Oresanya, Governor Abiodun, said Ogun State had grown beyond the monthly sanitation exercise for about 6 years ago, as every day was known thereafter as Environmental Sanitation Day in the State, hence, there was no need to pick a day in a month during which the State would be shut down for some hours all in observance of sanitation exercise.
“Already our people are used to daily sanitation, so instead of re- introducing monthly Environmental Exercise, we have decided to buy more Compactors and other waste management equipment for the State Waste Management Authority OGWAMA to daily collect and dispose properly waste generated by households, commercial outlets and industrial facilities in conjunction with accredited PSP across the State.
Governor Abiodun, therefore used the opportunity to commend residents of the State, Community Development Associations CDAs, Owners of Commercial Outlets and Captains of Industries for their cooperation so far with the State government in keeping the State clean assuring them that his administration will continue to empower and equip the Ministry of Environment and her sister Agencies- the Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency OGEPA and the Ogun State Waste Management Authority OGWAMA for better service delivery statewide.
The State helmsman also commended the Special Adviser and Managing Director of OGWAMA, Hon Farouk Akintunde, for his giant stride in the last six months in the agency, despite limited resources adding that he has shown that with provision of more Compactors and other waste management equipment he would take OGWAMA to higher height.
Meanwhile, the Lagos Waste Management Authority, LAWMA, disengaged a number of its street cleaning staff as the agency said its investigations and surveillance established that the affected workers were involved in dumping refuse on the median along the Oworonshoki-Berger axis.
The area has been identified as a recurring waste disposal hotspot in Lagos.
LAWMA Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, disclosed the development in a statement published on the authority’s social media platforms on Saturday.
Gbadegesin said investigations conducted by the authority linked the affected sweepers to the alleged illegal dumping, adding that some of them reportedly admitted their involvement during questioning.
He said the disengagement was necessary to reinforce accountability among personnel and contractors responsible for maintaining environmental cleanliness across the state.
“The sweepers, their supervisors and the service provider were disengaged from the cleaning operation to underscore the Authority’s commitment to ensuring that all personnel and service providers engaged in waste management in the State upheld the standards expected of them and did not contribute to the environmental challenges they were engaged to address,” he said.
The LAWMA chief executive warned that investigations would continue at locations across Lagos where indiscriminate waste disposal remains a recurring problem.
He added that individuals and organisations found to be contributing to the environmental challenges would face appropriate sanctions.
“Our responsibility is to keep Lagos clean, and everyone involved in that responsibility must play their part. Where our investigations establish that anyone is contributing to the problem, appropriate action will be taken. There will be no exceptions,” Gbadegesin added.
In a related development, LAWMA enforcement officers arrested two suspected illegal waste dumpers around the Berger-Oworonshoki axis.
One of the suspects, identified as Timileyin Ojo, a load carrier, was allegedly apprehended while dumping refuse on the road median with a wheelbarrow.
A second suspect, described as a cart pusher, was also arrested for allegedly carrying out unauthorised waste collection in the area.
Both suspects were taken to the Oshodi Task Force Office (Mobile Court) for further investigation and possible prosecution under Lagos State environmental laws.
LAWMA urged residents, businesses and waste collectors across the state to use approved waste disposal channels.
The authority also advised members of the public to patronise only authorised Private Sector Participants, PSPs, for waste collection.
