The First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, has described the public participation in the monthly environmental sanitation exercise as a work in progress.
Dr Sanwo-Olu appealed for understanding from some residents who complained about late evacuation of their refuse.
The First Lady, led senior government officials, including the wife of the Deputy Governor, Oluremi Hamzat and Special Adviser on the Environment, Engr. Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu and Permanent Secretaries, to monitor the exercise at Mafoluku in the Oshodi-Isolo Local Government.
Dr Sanwo-Olu appealed to some residents who complained that waste managers were not picking up their waste on time.
She stated that innovative measures are underway by the state government to resolve the challenge and ensure that waste evacuation improves statewide.
While describing the issues as teething problems, she stated that they are issues that would soon be overcome and ensure Lagos remains a clean city.
She also called for greater attention to waste separation by residents, noting that recyclable materials and other categories should be separated and not mixed.
She described the deliberate inclusion of school children in the monthly clean-up as an attempt to instil environmental consciousness at a very tender age.
Also speaking with the media, the Special Adviser to the Governor on the Environment, Engr. Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, commended the monthly improvement which the exercise is experiencing.
He opined that residents were now voluntarily coming out to clean their homes and streets, a departure from what it was when the exercise started.
He also urged residents to desist from indiscriminate waste dumping at unauthorised places, while embracing waste separation from the point of generation
Meanwhile, the Head of Service, Olabode Agoro, led another team which included the Permanent Secretary in the Office of Environmental Services, Dr. Gaji Omobolaji Tajudeen, to Lagos Mainland Local Government.
Agoro called on residents to take ownership of their environment and make cleanliness a daily responsibility, sustaining the gains recorded through the monthly sanitation exercise.
He noted that the exercise, which has been ongoing for over six months, is gradually recording improved public participation.
Agoro expressed satisfaction with the turnout of residents, but stressed that there was still room for improvement, urging Lagosians to begin cleaning their surroundings before monitoring officials arrived in their area.
According to him, the essence of the exercise is not for residents to clean only when government officials are present, but to encourage a culture of continuous environmental cleanliness.
We are very impressed with the turnout, but it could be a lot better; It is not supposed to be that we call for the exercise before people come out to clean. By the time we arrive, residents should already have commenced cleaning their surroundings”, he said.
The Head of Service also commended the Chairman of Lagos Mainland Local Council Development Area for the extensive advocacy and mobilisation efforts that have contributed to the improved participation of residents in the exercise.
