By Sunday Ani
Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly have called on the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to tackle the illegal activities of scavengers and the incessant stealing of manholes by enforcing the relevant environmental laws in the state.
The call, made during Tuesday’s plenary, followed a motion moved by Gbolahan Yishawu, representing Eti-Osa 2 state constituency.
Titled “Call on the State Government to Curb the Activities of Scavengers and Manhole Theft in Lagos,” Yishawu lamented that illegal waste sourcing by scavengers was damaging the environment. He also noted that manhole cover theft in the state had increased rapidly.
He emphasized the importance of manholes and explained that the scavengers had destroyed a lot of state infrastructure, forcing the government to spend more on their replacement.
He urged the state government to act swiftly by enforcing all relevant environmental laws to prevent further damage to state infrastructure through the activities of scavengers, stating that adequate laws were already in place to curtail the illegal acts.
He also called on the Ministry of Information and relevant agencies to educate and enlighten Lagosians on waste sourcing and sorting for recycling. Additionally, he urged the state government to replace the stolen manhole covers to avoid accidents.
Yishawu suggested that the state government stop the illegal sourcing of scrap materials, implement whistle-blowing strategies, and collaborate with Community Development Associations (CDAs) to prevent scavengers from operating at the grassroots. He also advocated for the prosecution of any scavenger caught stealing manholes.
Desmond Elliot, representing Surulere 1, commended Yishawu for the motion and noted that manhole covers in Surulere had all been stolen by scavengers.
He called on the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) to register scavengers, waste sourcing operators, and scrap dealers before they could operate in the state, suggesting that all illegal waste sourcing operators be stopped in Lagos.
Corroborating Yishawu, Kehinde Joseph, representing Alimosho 1, said: “We have all the necessary laws to ensure that the stealing of manhole covers does not occur in the state. The laws should be enforced effectively to curb the menace.”
Other lawmakers contributed to the motion, all urging the government to enforce the relevant environmental laws to arrest the ugly trend.
The Speaker of the House, Rt Hon Mojisola Meranda, in summing up the members’ contributions, called on Lagosians to play the role of whistleblowers, as the state government cannot handle the issue alone.
She urged the state government to sensitise Lagosians on the negative effects of the activities of scavengers and educate residents on the difference between sourcing used products for recycling and stealing state infrastructure.