By Oluwaseun Nubi
The Lagos State Government intensified environmental sanitation enforcement in Kosofe Local Government Area on Saturday, sealing several residential buildings for violations during the monthly exercise.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that several houses on Olorunfunmi St., Oworonshoki, were sealed during the June monthly sanitation exercise for non-compliance with sanitation regulations.
Some affected residents attributed the action to irregular waste collection by Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators, alleging that refuse had remained uncollected in the area for some time.
Responding, the Lagos State Head of Service, Mr Olabode Agoro, said the government would investigate the allegations before drawing conclusions.
“I cannot call anybody out because there could be a variety of reasons why the refuse has not been evacuated. Some residents may not have paid for the service, while there could be other reasons.
“We need to investigate properly to determine what is responsible. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of the Environment, is here with me and we will look into the matter,” Agoro said.
He urged residents to take more responsibility for keeping their surroundings clean, stressing that the government alone could not achieve a cleaner Lagos.
Agoro said he observed indiscriminate disposal of sachet water nylons and other waste along roads during the monitoring exercise.
“If you visit developed countries, people don’t throw refuse indiscriminately. The government cannot do it alone; we are all government.
“When I eat anything, I don’t throw the waste out of my car. I keep it until I get to where I can dispose of it properly. We all need to be more conscious of our environment and take responsibility,” he said.
The Chairman of Kosofe Local Government, Mr Moyo Ogunlewe, said the council would sustain public enlightenment campaigns to encourage residents to adopt proper sanitation practices.
He said the council had identified refuse on walkways, streets and in open drainage channels, adding that the Environment Department had been directed to clear the waste and sustain compliance monitoring.
Also, the Director of Environmental Health Services, Kosofe Local Government, Mrs Mopelola Abijo, said the council remained committed to maintaining a healthy environment through sustained sensitisation.
She said refuse collection points had been provided across the council’s seven wards, including two in Oworonshoki, to improve waste disposal.
Abijo urged residents to participate actively in environmental sanitation exercises and dispose of refuse properly.
The Baale of Olubori Odunfa Ikore Community, Oworonshoki, Chief Surajudeen Lasisi, commended the state government and Kosofe Local Government for sustaining the monthly sanitation.
He, however, attributed refuse accumulation in parts of the community to inadequate waste evacuation and called for closer collaboration between community leaders and PSP operators.
Lasisi pledged that community leaders would intensify awareness campaigns and encourage residents to comply with environmental sanitation regulations. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma