By Mercy Omoike
The Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has disclosed plans to recruit about 300 environmental health personnel for the frontline enforcement of proper waste management and environmental sanitation in the state.
The Managing Director of LAWMA, Dr Olumuyiwa Gbadegesin, disclosed this during a courtesy visit to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos.
Gbadegesin said the personnel would educate the residents on proper waste management and anyone that refused to listen would be punished.
He said following the approval of the state Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the agency would employ 300 environmental health personnel across various areas in the state.
“We have secured the approval of Gov. Sanwo-Olu to engage 300 environmental health personnel.
“These environmental health personnel are responsible for the frontline enforcement of proper waste management and environmental sanitation across the state.
“The environmental health personnel will be tasked with modifying human behaviour towards sanitation which is the critical software of waste management.
“Waste management goes beyond clearing waste but extends to the nitty-gritty of addressing system behavioural change among Nigerians.
“People should know that there is a consequence for a legal dumping of waste and there should be immediate enforcement,” he said.
He disclosed that the agency had arrested 26 people for open defecation.
“Just in the last few days, we have arrested 26 people for open defecation of solid human waste. It is against the law and we will continue to make arrests of defaulters.
“These personnel will first be tasked with educating the people and anyone that refuses to listen or adhere will be punished,” he said.
Gbadegesin said the agency would employ every strategy to address waste management in the state with tangible results.
“When you’re talking about waste, it’s not just the daily work of clearing it. It also involves the systems and the human behaviour towards waste.
“The equipment and the infrastructure in waste management is like the hardware. The people and their behaviour are like the software of the system, while laws and the regulatory framework are like the operating system.
“In terms of human behaviour, what we have done is that we have extended the advocacy department of LAWMA.
“The advocacy team goes out and liaises with the community and the Community Development Committees along with the PSP operators to resolve issues.
“We also work closely with the local governments and they have now set up a waste management task force that works with our advocacy department,” Gbadegesin said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma
