Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps, LAGESC, has made a passionate appeal to market leaders within Badagry Division to prevail on their members to ensure total compliance with the State’s Environmental Law especially as it relates to proper waste disposal, clearing of drainages and maintaining holistic cleanliness in the markets.
Dr. Omobolaji Gaji, Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services, Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, represented by Mr. Bolaji Fasasi, Director Monitoring Enforcement and Compliance, made the appeal on Tuesday during Badagry Divisional Stakeholders & Community Engagement meeting held at the agency’s headquarters in Oshodi.
He reminded participants at the meeting that the T.H.EM.E.S agenda of the Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu geared toward a cleaner and greener environment must be upheld by LAGESC towards achieving the goal of making the metropolis hygienic and habitable.
According to him, periodic engagements and interactive meetings with relevant stakeholders in the public remain pertinent to achieving voluntary compliance, especially at the grassroots including in the various Local Government and Local Council Development Areas.
While commending the Corps Marshal, CP Gbemisola Akinpelu (rtd) for always bridging the gap and ensuring that no stones are left unturned in exhausting the Agency’s mandate, the Permanent Secretary assured the Agency of timely support towards its daily operational duties and improved service delivery.
He used the opportunity of the meeting to call on the Heads of Sanitation Departments in LGAs and LCDAs under the Badagry division to renew their partnership with the Agency in ridding the State of environmental nuisances.
He noted that the agency, recognizing the fact that voluntary compliance can be achieved through massive advocacy, had since increased its advocacy drive using traditional and new media platforms.
Saying that the constitution of designated markets in the State falls under the purview of Local Government Councils, Gaji implored councils under Badagry Division to be partners in progress with the agency by discouraging the establishment of illegal markets, which according to him, contributes to a blockage of drainages and canals.
The Permanent Secretary enjoined the State Market Board under the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to continue to prevail on market men and women on the need to keep the designated market environs clean, patronize approve LAWMA-PSP operators and not encroach on the road setbacks.
CP Gbemisola Akinpelu (rtd) the Corps Marshal, Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC), on her part, informed that the advocacy and stakeholders’ engagement in a cleaner environment would be extended to other divisions of the State.
She expressed the hope that the deliberations at the meeting will help proffer solutions to improved service delivery with regard to the mandate of maintaining a hygienic, cleaner environment and reducing environmental infractions to the barest minimum in the State.
“It is important to note that this stakeholders’ meeting will serve as a platform in providing solutions to maintaining a high level of hygiene in Lagos environs and in accordance with the State’s environmental laws to achieve the T.H.E.M.E.S agenda of Mr. Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s Cleaner and Greener vision.”
She reminded participants at the meeting that Hawking, Street Trading, indiscriminate dumping of refuse in drains, gutters, and canals, and refusal to pay LAWMA-PSP waste bills by public and private buildings is a punishable offence and thus remains enforceable by KAI and other relevant agencies.
