• Launches LAWMA academy, community marshals, street captains
The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has reiterated his administration’s commitment to zero tolerance for traffic and environmental infractions, just as he promised to boost the capacity of LAWMA to evacuate waste with 100 trucks.
Speaking on Tuesday at the launch of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) Academy, Community Marshals and Street Captains, the Governor through his Deputy, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, warned that those engaged in the acts of throwing waste in drainages should desist from such unhealthy and destructive practices.
He further noted that the present administration’s vision of Making Lagos a 21st Century Economy and a Smart City State would be impossible if the issue of waste management is not taken seriously, as he applauded the dedication of LAWMA staff in keeping Lagos clean, healthy and habitable for all.
“It is heartwarming to note that LAWMA has not just been doing a good job in managing our waste in Lagos, they have been doing this with steady improvements like the collection and disposal capacity, which has been raised from 439 trips per day in May 2020 to 720 trips per day presently.
“They have also come up with several innovations and initiatives, part of which we are here to launch today, intended at improving the efficiency and the effectiveness of waste management in the State”, Sanwo-Olu said.
The governor, however, emphasised that the initiatives could not have come at a better time than now to complement the several warnings and alerts on flooding in the coming days when the rains begin fully.
He stressed the need to intensify efforts on managing waste in the State as well as sensitising the public and enforcing the law against those who engage in indiscriminate disposal of waste.
Describing LAWMA Academy initiatives as first of its kind in this part of the world, the governor submitted that it would serve as the educational arm of the agency that engages an innovative approach to support corporate and personal development among the citizens.
Part of the functions of the academy is to raise the next generation of scholars and entrepreneurs, through the several programmes and the services that will be rendered to improve waste literacy and promote good waste management practices to reduce, reuse and recycle waste.
“I have no doubt in mind that this academy will impact attitudinal change for proper and sustainable waste management in Lagos and I am really impressed that this time around, academia is partnering with the government to ensure that knowledge is properly harnessed to address socio-economic challenges”, he declared.
The governor soon averred that the present administration would continue to support LAWMA in her current drive to make Lagos cleaner and safer for everyone in line with the goals of the Health and Environment pillar of the T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda.
He said, “To further strengthen LAWMA’s capacity, we have concluded plans to procure additional 100 Trucks for the Agency and these trucks are expected to arrive before the end of the year.
“We have also concluded plans to launch the LAWMA Adopt-A-Bin programme which is targeted at waste containerisation as well as waste segregation from source”.
In her address at the event, the wife of the State Governor, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu described the initiatives as laudable because they will help to sensitise and educate citizens on the need for proper waste management in Lagos State.
She said, “Today marks the beginning of another milestone in the history of LAWMA, as the Lagos State Government is launching various initiatives aimed at ensuring that residents feel real governance across the length and breadth of the State, especially in terms of the environment.”
The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tunji Bello, remarked that the initiatives are steps in the right direction and a significant part of the environmental education and advocacy, adding that it will help to entrench the culture of sustainable waste management in the minds of the young ones and serve as a vehicle of attitudinal change towards the environment in the larger society.
In addition, he said, it will equally affirm the State government’s commitment to a sustainable waste management programme.
