PHOTOS: Set Up Waste Policing Outfit – LAWMA Boss Charges Ikorodu LCDA —-The Managing Director/CEO of the Lagos Waste Management Authority, LAWMA, Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni, has asked Ikorodu West Local Council Development Area and the residents, to set up a waste policing outfit, to curb reckless waste disposal practices in the community.
He said this during the second stakeholders’ meeting organized for local government and LCDAs across the state, on clean and sustainable environment, held at Ikorodu West Local Council Development Area, Owutu, while addressing market officials, representatives of CDAs/CDCs, and other stakeholders.
The LAWMA boss noted that a waste policing outfit would create jobs for the youths and check unhygienic habits that deface the environment, adding that LAWMA was ready to offer all needed assistance in the area of training.
According to him, “You need to empower the youths in Ikorodu West LCDA and create jobs for them through waste policing. You have the constitutional backing, use your byelaws to establish what will be beneficial to your community. LAWMA is ready to train those youths, so that they will go into the communities in uniforms, to apprehend violators and that would serve as deterrent to others,”
“Let those youths work together with the council’s health officers, to enforce the environmental laws of the state. Most residents have taken refuse burning as a routine, they go as far as burning in front of their homes. Let your youths police such areas, arrest the defaulters and make them face the music. Epe Local Government and Ibeju -Lekki LCDA have employed over 70 youths respectively, to achieve a healthier environment, it has worked for them. You can also emulate this”. Odumboni said.
Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the Council, Hon. Sulaimon Kazeem Olanrewaju, represented by the Council’s Deputy Leader, Hon. Batife Daisi, commended LAWMA for its determined effort at transforming Ikorodu landscape and firmly establishing environmental sustainability.
The Chief Imam of Ikorodu West, Sheikh Mushafau Kosoko, represented by Imam Alaliqurani Jolayemi, charged LAWMA to tackle the environmental nuisance constituted by different stakeholders, at various bus-stops and garages in the town.
Also speaking, the majority leader; Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, represented by Hon. Ogunde Temitope, assured that necessary legislative requirements would be put in place, to reposition waste management in the area, urging residents to cooperate with environmental health officers in their domains, to ensure hygienic surroundings.
The council head of food stuff Association, Chief (Mrs.) Felicia Ojo, and the chairman of Ikorodu West Butchers Association, Mr. Akeem Adewole, both commended LAWMA for mobilizing the various stakeholders towards achieving a cleaner Lagos city.
Highlight of the programme was a brief presentation on LAWMA’s latest project, “Adopt-a-Bin”, which involves the purchase of two waste bins, for separately containerizing organic waste and recyclable items, for easy storage and collection of waste.
Responding to a question, LAWMA’s Chief Technical Officer, Dr. Olorunwa Tijani, enjoined residents to always containerize their waste, patronize assigned PSP operators and pay their waste bill promptly.
Also in attendance at the meeting were, the executive director, Finance, Mr. Kunle Adebiyi; AGM Performance Management, Mrs. Tawa Oyekanmi; AGM North-East, Mrs. Bola Adewunmi; AGM East, Mr Wale Adeshina; Director Public Affairs, Mrs. Folashade Kadiri, and others.
