Lagos State residents on Saturday observed the May edition of the monthly sanitation exercise between the hours of 6.30am to 8.30am with the State Government’s commitment that as participation improves, the state will also step up its engagement and advocacy to create more awareness amongst its residents.
Speaking in an interview after monitoring the exercise which also had the First Lady, Dr (Mrs) Claudiana Sanwo-Olu in attendance at Orisumbare in Shasha under Alimosho Local Government, Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab said despite the fact that people just celebrated a major festival, they still found the need to clean their environment today.
Wahab who was joined by a Member of the State House of Assembly representing Alimosho, Hon Lukmon Orelope, Special Adviser on Environment, Engr Kunle Rotimi-Akodu and Permanent Secretaries including that of Drainage Service, Engr Olakunle Adegbite TG/ PS, Dr Idowu Oyetola assured that if the first two months of the sanitation exercise are appraised, the State is not doing badly for an exercise that was suspended for almost 10 years.
He gave a promise that due notes have been taken concerning complaints of some residents about the PSP waste operators not coming regularly to cart away their refuse.
He said due cognizance must be taken of the fact that Alimosho is one of the largest Local Governments in the state and the nation and that LAWMA will convene a meeting to know what issues the PSP operators are facing which is hindering their operations.
He commended the Alimosho Local Government led by the Chairman, Mr Johnson Akinpelumi for providing two compactor trucks to compliment LAWMA compactor trucks in carting away refuse generated.
On the promise to reward the cleanest Local Government area, the Commissioner assured that it is still on course as figures of performances are being collated by the officials involved and the results of the ratings will soon be released.
Meanwhile, the Head of Service, Mr Olabode Agoro who led another team of state officials to monitor the exercise at Apapa Local Goverment said the desired momentum for the exercise is gradually increasing saying that the Advocacy must continue to ensure the cleanliness culture is entrenched in the residents.
“We must keep pushing in order for residents to know that government is serious; nobody would like to live in a dirty environment because it is a breeding ground for diseases” he said.
Agoro said government wants residents to voluntarily embrace and participate in the exercise, adding that the cleaner the environment becomes, the healthier the citizens will be.
He thanked the Apapa Local Government Executives for their co-operation, saying: “everyone must join hands for the success of the monthly exercise”.
Accompanying the Head of Service were the Chairman Apapa Local Government, Mrs Adejumoke Senbanjo, Permanent Secretary Office of Environmental Services Gaji Omobolaji, Permanent Secretary, Public Service Office, Mrs Sunkanmi Oyegbola, Permanent Secretary Tourism Art and Culture, Mrs Bopo Oyekan-Ismaila as well as Heads of Agencies and Directors in the Ministry.
