• Pledges to make Lagos liveable for all

Lagos State government has arrested a total of 1,081 environmental offenders in the last 24 months and prosecuted 1016 of them at the Mobile Magistrate’s court.

The state said that they were also sentenced to community service at various locations.

The state has also strengthened its Drainage Enforcement activities by ensuring due diligence concerning all drainage channels and restoring Right of Ways on all channels.

This is as it continues its all-year-round clearing and cleaning of major primary and secondary drainage channels, to check flooding.

Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, who disclosed this during the yearly ministerial press briefing, reiterated the state’s commitment and relentless effort to ensure that it remains liveable for all Lagosians.

Wahab noted that the environment had been degraded due to the brazen acts of the minority, which has festered because concerted efforts were not made to correct the wrongdoings and ensure that there are consequences for infractions.

According to him, the present administration has done a lot to ensure that Lagos does not experience loss of lives and property to the vagaries of flooding that comes with torrential rainfalls owing to its commitment of humongous resources to combat flooding.

He said a total of 34 Primary Channels totaling approximately 115km length were executed under the maintenance of Dredging of Primary Channels.

This maintenance, he said, spanned all 20 Local Government Areas.
They also drained several catchment areas simultaneously while 144 numbers of Secondary Collectors covering 125.7km were also cleaned.

For Secondary Collectors, about 281 numbers of Collector Drains totaling approximately 242.5 km in length, have also been approved for cleaning.

“It is ironic that people who have used physical structures to block our drainage and do not allow the storm water to drain into the proper channels into the lagoon are the same people with the loudest voices.

“They lampoon the state for not doing enough to prevent flash flooding and the resultant damage to properties and avoidable dislocations and loss of lives,” he said.

The Commissioner said the State through the Drainage Construction department awarded 77 contracts for the construction of new drainage channels measuring over 200km of secondary collectors and 50km of primary channels and built a concrete lining to ensure free flow of stormwater.

He informed that as part of activities to achieve no open defecation status by 2025, the state will build 100 new ultra-modern toilets across the state.

Wahab added that the locations to cite the toilets are presently being identified preparatory to commencement of construction.

In the area of waste management, the commissioner said the ministry has ramped up its activities for improved and timely waste-clearing efforts all over the state, adding that the two main dumpsites of Olusosun and Soulous have also experienced rehabilitation leading to increased capacity.

He said: “I would like to assure you that the Olusosun dump site will be recommissioned in the next 24 months.

“The state generates 13,000 waste daily, as such, the government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with JOSPONG Group from Ghana on solid and liquid waste treatment solutions in the state.

“The MOU will ensure the identification of existing dumpsites/Transfer Loading Station as potential candidates for conversion/upgrading to Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) and compost facilities.

“The collaboration between Lagos and JOSPONG technical teams will re-engineer the solid waste management system in Lagos State and ensure creation of job opportunities in the Waste to Wealth value chain.”

Wahab said based on the information of grave health concerns and the dangers of the use of styrofoam to the eco system and drainage channels, the Ministry pronounced a ban on the use, sale and distribution of Styrofoam food containers in the state.

He added that over 322.5 kg of Styrofoam food containers have so far been confiscated and deposited at the TLS Marini in Oshodi for destruction, while more efforts is being intensified on public awareness and sensitisation of residents on the dangers inherent in the continued usage of the Styrofoam food containers.

While outlining the achievement of the State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), the Commissioner said the Agency undertook 367 enforcement activities in households, markets, hotels, warehouses, service centres, eateries, stores, church, mosques and 140 hospitality facilities including supermarket, nightclubs and bakery houses with a view to ensuring compliance with the state environmental laws.