The Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu led administration in Lagos State has ramped up its activities for improved and timely waste-clearing efforts all over the state.

Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab said the two main dumpsites at Olusosun and Soulous have also experienced rehabilitation leading to increased capacity.

Wahab said market leaders must advocate to their members on the need to keep market environment clean, hygienic and sanitary, adding that they care about the wellbeing of Lagosians and will close down any market found wanting in that regard.

According to him, as much as they want to positively trigger a change in attitude to the environment from the citizenry, we must also furnish you with steps undertaken so far as policy makers and administrators.

In a renewed step to ensure the safety of lives and property of residents, the Commissioner said operatives of KAI/LAGESC re-enforced the use of pedestrian bridges with 1,032 persons arrested for crossing the highway and failure to use pedestrian bridges.

Wahab added that 165 miscreants and squatters on the pedestrian bridges across the state were dislodged and the bridges cleaned up.

He said the operative of KAI recently unearthed an illegal housing settlement constructed under the Dolphin Bridge where 80 rooms housing miscreants were dismantled, adding that the government is determined to dislodge all under bridges across the state and convert them into proper public use.

He stressed that the banning of street traders on the Island will also spread to other Local Government Areas in the state as it will be a continuous exercise.

The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, disclosed this during the Lagos Central Senatorial District Stakeholders and Engagement Meeting organised by the agency at its Multi Agency Safety Arena Complex in Bolade, Oshodi.

Wahab said he is impressed by the theme of this year’s Stakeholders engagement ‘Community Engagement: A Catalyst for Enhancing Environmental Compliance’as it underscores the pressing need for increased stakeholder and community engagement to serve a larger mandate of securing adherence to the State’s environmental laws.

It is when we break word to those directly involved in our operational scope that we can make our job easier and discharge our duties with a human face which helps the environment.

It must be stated that KAI has been impressive in the past six months since the Corps Marshal, Major Olatunbosun Olaniyi Cole (Rtd) was appointed by Mr. Governor in February to lead the Agency.

Now, street traders, hawkers and environmental defaulters risking their lives by crossing highways, are arrested on a daily and made to face prosecution.

Street trading is a contributory factor to the heaps of refuse which usually end up in our drains. In the same vein, Lagos residents in transit are implored to use pedestrian bridges which are safety-compliant.

You would recall that we announced a total ban on the use of Styrofoam in the State and it was met with mixed reactions but this decision turned out to be saving grace for the environment in Lagos and general public health.

Of course, we met with stakeholders, deliberated and informed them of our decision which was followed up with widespread advocacy. Even the PS would agree to the fact that Styrofoam lacks recycling value alongside its non-biodegradable nature which poses hazardous threats to the environment.

Also, part of our determination to ensure that the State remains liveable for all residents remains the reason we are committed to rectifying environmental degradation carried out by some residents in the State who built houses on major drainage setbacks resulting in blockage of our drainages and hindrance of waste water to drain into the proper channels that will route it to the river or lagoon.

On his part, Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services and Water Resources, Dr. Tajudeen Gaji said Lagos is a cosmopolitan city with a budding population that fuels the wheels of commerce via the formal and informal sector.

Gaji said Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) popularly known as KAI has earned the accolades of Lagosians due to the buzz generated from daily enforcement, advocacy and constant monitoring of Lagos environs to promote a cleaner, hygienic and greener environment in the State.
He said the theme of this year’s Stakeholders engagement – ‘Community Engagement: A Catalyst for Enhancing Environmental Compliance’ demonstrates to us all present on the importance of stakeholder engagement as a tool to facilitate wilful change of behaviour towards the environment.

Gaji stated that they must engage communities and ensure that they listen, obtain feedback, create a mutual platform for the exchange of ideas and innovations which is positive for the environment.

According to him, Street traders and hawkers usually in the habit displaying goods for sale in traffic and on our roads have witnessed stiff opposition from KAI operatives exhausting their daily mandate across the State.

In his words, many defaulting residents fond of risking their lives by rather not plying the pedestrian bridges are being arrested daily and prosecuted to serve as deterrents to others, adding that enforcement is key to setting a precedence for others to adjust and follow the right path of obedience to environmental laws.

Gaji noted that they struggle to ensure that the environment is protected, cleaner, hygienic and habitable, it is key to highlight the importance of imbibing a responsible and healthy attitude towards the environment by maintaining general cleanliness of environment, markets, office buildings, homes and ensure that the PSP operators are patronised for effective waste disposal.

LASESC Corp Marshal, retired Major Olaniyi Cole, said it arrests an average of fifty street traders daily in different parts of the state.

Cole said the activities of street traders was giving the government serious concern, stressing that a special taskforce would be set up to enforce strict compliance with environmental laws.

He stated that the taskforce would ensure traders do not display their wares on the setbacks, roadsides and perimeter fencing, particularly on Lagos Island.

Cole said Street trading remains banned in the state and anyone caught will face the wrath of the law, warning traders and the public to stop corrupting his men, so as to break environmental laws such as trading at wrong places.

He also warned his men against corruption, which would prevent them from carrying out their duties as expected.

According to him, LAGESC, is committed to exhausting all lawful options to ensure sanity in the environment, hence the reason for organising periodic stakeholder engagement meetings over the years across the Senatorial Divisions of the State to seek the buy-in and cooperation of all relevant stakeholders.

In his words; Environmental Sanitation retains great importance due to its indispensable role played in daily communal living and livelihood, adding that while the agency strive for a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable Lagos, it is requisite to highlight that the responsibility is not only in the hands of government agencies but also incumbent on everyone.

Resounding to highlight is the theme of this year’s Stakeholders engagement which is ‘Community Engagement: A Catalyst for Enhancing Environmental Compliance’ –because we have discovered that the voices of stakeholders must be heard, their thoughts must be echoed and there is need to agree on a common goal for the total eradication of environmental nuisances in Lagos.

When I assumed duty alongside other Deputy Corps Marshals on the 25th of January, 2024, our operatives have been able to carry out enforcement operations and conduct a clean-up of all pedestrian bridges in the State. Also important to note, we have also made numerous arrests and secured the prosecution of miscreants that converted pedestrian bridges to lay siege on unsuspecting pedestrians which discourage the use of the bridges for safety.

Also, we have upheld the enforcement on the ban on Styrofoam packs being used to package food by food vendors having been identified as a major constituent which blocks our drains when it rains. The bio-degradable nature and non-recyclable nature of Styrofoam means that it is unneeded and harmful to both humans and the environment.

In the same light, we have stepped up daily enforcement operations to reduce the spate of street trading to erring traders and hawkers in the habit of displaying wares for sale in traffic, lay-bys, setbacks, medians, road verges and kerbs. Street Trading and Hawking remain banned according to the State’s environmental laws and as the premier environmental enforcement Agency charged with such mandate, we remain committed.

As an enforcement Agency, we prosecuted over 5,000 offenders in the last six months which further reinforces our zeal to rid the State of environmental infractions while constantly monitoring Lagos environs on a daily via our operatives to make Lagos habitable for business.

To make Lagos habitable for business, we must imbibe a culture of positive environmental practices via proper waste disposal by patronising approved PSP operators, prompt payment of waste bills to avoid prosecution, recycling and regular environmental sanitation to reduce the spate of communicable diseases whilst discouraging pollution of the environment.

Our respective communities inspire environmental change via awareness campaigns, workshops, and community clean-up drives which have proven as capable measures to motivate Lagos residents to take pride in their environment and be active environmental crusaders.

Teaching our children about the importance of cleanliness, we can instil good hygiene practices from an early age thereby creating a future generation that values and appreciates environmental sanitation.

The importance of collaboration remains pivotal through partnerships with local authorities, non-profit organizations, and businesses to trigger a working relationship where we can pool our resources and expertise to tackle environmental challenges head-on. Together, we can create a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable Lagos for generations to come.

As we buy into the smart waste management initiatives of the State, it is essential for us residents to report unwholesome waste-related issues and perpetuators alike for the good of the environment.

In conclusion, we must be reminded that the success of environmental sanitation and management in Lagos relies on the active involvement of our communities. We all have a role to play and together, we can inspire change for Lagos via positive attitudes to the environment.

The Oluwole Market Leader on Lagos Island, Josephine Abeni, said street trading in the market was affecting the sales of traders who paid millions of Naira to secure shops at Balogun Market.

Abeni called on the government to check street trading, saying that it also caused heavy human and vehicular traffic on the Island.

She urged the government to fix cameras on the streets to check the traders, adding that those arrested should be prosecuted.

Some stakeholders blamed the government for encouraging street trading, saying that the officials collect money from street traders and issue them tickets.