The Lagos State Government has launched a full-scale war on indiscriminate disposal of waste by warning that anyone caught violating environmental laws within the state will face the full wrath of the law.
The state’s Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Babatunde Adejare, made the declaration at an interactive session with media men in Lagos during the week.
Adejare spoke against the backdrop of the worsening situation where some Lagos residents have formed the habit of dumping waste at illegal spots, thereby sabotaging on-going efforts to rid Lagos State of filth.
He noted with concern that soon after littered black spots and illegal dumping sites were cleared, some residents would return and dump waste at the same spots. He admonished residents to use approved and legitimate dumping sites to dispose their refuse to avoid arrest and prosecution.
“The Cleaner Lagos Initiative was borne out of the need for Lagos to employ the operating standards adopted by other countries in the area of waste management. With the introduction of the CLI, we have launched a full-scale war on improper waste management within the state. The CLI is the solution to the recurring complaints about the manner waste is disposed within the state. I have no doubt that it will be a huge success when we roll it out fully by next year,” said the commissioner.
Taking a cue from Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, who advised Lagos residents during his budget presentation speech to pay their Public Utility Levy (PUL), Adejare stated that the PUL is a consolidated fee replacing former waste charges collected by the government from property owners and residents, positing that the new policy would help in optimising efficiency in the waste management process. He enjoined Lagosians to pay their bills promptly.
On the dispute between Private Sector Participants (PSPs) and the Lagos State Government, Adejare said the PSPs lack the capacity to handle the over 10,000 metric tonnes of waste generated in Lagos daily in an effective and scientific manner, adding that Lagosians would see the impact of the new arrangement when it becomes fully implemented. He added that Governor Ambode has mandated officials of the state to ensure that the PSPs were accommodated in the Cleaner Lagos Initiative, believing that indigenous operators must play a part in the process.