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• State govt battles indiscriminate dumping of waste
By Kehinde Aderemi
From Ikorodu to Ikeja, Ebute Meta to Egbeda, Agege to Dopemu, Alaba Rago to Orile, Idimu to Ijegun, the story is the same. For several weeks, streets and major roads across Lagos metropolis have been taken over by heaps of refuse. And the city, which prides itself as the Centre of Excellence now stinks.
In some parts of Lagos, disposable bags of waste litter the streets, roads and median where there are dual carriageways. The Mile Two-Badagry Expressway, Apapa-Oshodi, Egbeda-Akowonjo Road; LASU-Igando roads are typical examples.
It was for this reason that Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, recently ordered the immediate evacuation of waste from the streets across the state. But despite the governor’s directive, heaps of refuse have continued to build-up in the city centre.
Environmental agencies like the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), and the Ministry of Environment, were mobilised to intensify sanitation efforts across affected communities.
Although the governor disclosed that additional waste collection trucks and personnel have been deployed with sanitation workers operating round the clock to restore cleanliness and also normalise conditions, no major changes have been noticed in most parts of Lagos visited by our correspondents.
The governor had assured residents that the state government was fully committed to resolving the situation and also maintaining environmental safety across the state. Findings reveal that Sanwo-Olu’s order came amid growing displeasure among Lagos residents who now face the discomfort and potential dangers of indiscriminate refuse dumping on the streets and markets.
In the same vein, Labour Party’s 2023 governorship candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, was among the people that raised their voices against poor management of waste in the state.
Vivour slammed the state Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, over the state’s waste management system. He declared that the governor’s announcement amounted to an admission of failure, and not a solution.
According to him, Lagos residents deserve a functional waste management system that prevents refuse from piling up rather than periodic emergency evacuations.
Wahab acknowledged residents’ concerns but defended the government’s record.
He explained that Lagos evacuates an average of 13,200 tons of waste daily through the Lagos Waste Management Authority and Private Sector Participation operators.
It was gathered that the agencies involved in waste management in the state are working on the directives of the governor, but a resident at the Okokomaiko area lamented: “In spite of the waste evacuation order by the governor, Lagos still sinks.”
Another resident, who did not want to be mentioned, expressed worry at the sight of the mountain of refuse beside Mobil Petrol Station on Apapa Road, Ebute Metta, Lagos.
“This is an authorised refuse dump, but in the last few weeks, it has literally turned to mountain with aggressive odour oozing out from it,” he said.
The drainage system built during the construction of the Mile Two-Okoko ten-lane road, to solve the flooding problem on that axis, has become a dump site as empty containers of water, soft drinks, sachet water, and used plastic bottles litter the whole corridor.
Mr. John Gbamila, a resident of Blessed Estate, Ejigbo told the reporter that the indiscriminate dumping of refuse in Lagos needs urgent attention.
He appealed to the Lagos State Waste Management Authority to replace one of the PSP operators designated to his area.
“Our environment is so dirty that we cannot stay outside again because residents usually put their waste in front of their buildings and the whole estate stinks.
“LAWMA should engage more private waste disposal companies that can handle the waste crisis in the state.
“The excuse they give for not coming to pick the waste was that the dumping sites at Igando and Berger have been shut down and they had yet to get an authorised dumping site where they can dump wastes.”
Mr. Afolabi Idowu, a resident of Idimu, said the operator designated by LAWMA to dispose of waste in his community has long abandoned the job. Idowu said it has been over four months now since the operator last visited the community.
“I complained about this, but we have yet to hear from them. The most annoying situation is that they still bring their bills to our community, whereas the services are not being rendered.
“Our community is dirty as I am speaking with you and we cannot be paying for services not rendered. We pay N12, 000 monthly as sanitation dues and for the past four months, none of the operators have visited to evacuate our waste.
Meanwhile, Saturday Sun gathered that at the Idumota market in Lagos Island, where there used to be heaps of refuse in all the corridors around the market, the heaps of waste have been cleared.
Mrs. Taiwo Adeniran, a trader at the market said she was surprised to see that the heaps of refuse at the market had been cleared.
“This is where I sell my bags. Ebute Ero and Idumota have always been full of refuse, but since last Thursday, the waste in the market has been evacuated.
“I wouldn’t know if it was the order from the governor that made it possible, but what I saw as I was coming to the market today was that the heaps of refuse at Idumota and Ebute Ero had been cleared and I asked one of my neighbours about the development, and she said it was the LAWMA that came to clear the refuse,” Adeniran said.
“Every Thursday is Environmental Sanitation Day for markets and shops in Lagos State, but it is unfortunate that not many marketers in the state observe the weekly sanitation.”
But Madam Taiwo Jaiyeola who sells clothes and fashion designing materials at Jankara market in Lagos said the traders usually observe the weekly sanitation at the market.
Adetola Ajayi, a Lagos based photographer, blamed the state government for abandoning its duty from the beginning of the year till May and June when the rainy season started fully.
Ajayi wondered why it took the governor a period of six months before he gave directives for the evacuation of waste in the state.
“About three months ago, the Lagos State Government reintroduced the monthly sanitation exercise. The exercise was good, but I am yet to see the impact. For instance, the wastes that were brought out during the sanitation exercises from the gutters to free the drainage system would be left for the next rain to push them back into the gutters.
“As far as I am concerned, there’s still a lot to be done in terms of waste management and evacuation in the state,” Ajayi said.
Alhaji Yisa Ismail, a resident of Ikorodu said the monthly sanitation exercise in his area was well observed. According to him, residents of his community do the sanitation of their houses accordingly.
“I am impressed with the way residents of our community here in Engineer Street, Adamo, Ikorodu, have been observing the monthly sanitation exercise.”
Mrs. Oluwayemisi Stella, another resident, said the re-introduction of the monthly sanitation exercise is another good initiative from the Lagos State Government.
“Waste disposal, management and evacuation are completely the responsibility of the Lagos State Government, but as residents of the state, it is also our responsibility to support the state government in ensuring that our environment is clean and tidy.
LAWMA’s Director, Public Affairs, Mukaila Sanusi, was yet to respond to his calls and messages to get an update on the evacuation of waste across the state as well as how the agency has been responding to the development at the time of filing this report.
