Lagosians are in for a good deal in the state’s new environmental law tagged: “Environmental Management and Protection Law”.
The law, recently signed by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, is to make the Centre of Excellence more liveable for its estimated 21 million inhabitants.
Besides creating 27, 500 new jobs, the policy will fast track the process of transforming the Lagos metropolis into a cleaner megacity by tackling air and water pollution.
It will also insulate residents against preventable deceases and halt further deterioration of the environment, thus paving the way for thriving socio-economic activities.
There is provision for the thousands of Community Sanitation Workers (CSWs) to be directly employed in the scheme will earn tax-free salaries and be entitled to a pension scheme.
The 27, 500 CSWs are to be provided with insurance benefits, including life, health, accident and injury cover. To enhance the quality of lives of the CSWs who will be saddled with the task of keeping city clean, they will be deployed in their immediate communities, thereby eliminating transportation cost and making them accountable to their kinsmen.
Admitting how precarious environmental sanitation issues have become in the state, the government said: “Lagos is at critical levels of pollution. We must change course because our children’s lives and future depend on it.”
The governor expressed optimism that the law would translate to environmental victories for the state which over the years, struggled to effectively manage 10,000 metric tonnes of waste generated by residential, commercial and industrial concerns daily.
Signing the bill into law, Ambode said: “I am delighted that our bill has been signed into law. Our major environmental laws are outdated and do not address our present-day challenges.
“We exist in a world where the protection and preservation of public health and the environment have evolved and are primarily driven by data. We cannot compete if our laws are based on obsolete information.”
The governor lauded members of the State House of Assembly for shelving their differences in the overall best interest united to pass the bill.
He said: “I know that the process of change may seem daunting at first, but ultimately, this shows that we can achieve a lot on our own and we can join with others for the common good of Lagos State.
“We have taken everyone along the value chain into consideration from the existing Private Sector Participants (PSPs) to the cart pushers and the scavengers on the landfills. Everyone will be accommodated under this new environmental scheme.”
Those who witnessed the signing included: the Stock Exchange Commission (SEC) regulated trustees who will manage the Environmental Trust Fund, representatives of FBN Merchant Bank, Stanbic IBTC, United Capital Plc, STL Trustees Ltd, United Trustees Ltd, Camden Yards Ltd, Union Trust, Afrinvest, Exczellon Capital and APEL Trustees.