… As Weekly Sanitation Advocacy Campaign Train Moves To Bariga LCDA
The Lagos State Government on Sunday emphasised the importance of good sanitation practices amongst all residents to ensure a clean, flood-free, safe and sustainable environment across the state.
The State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab disclosed this during the Weekly Community-Based Environmental Sanitation Advocacy campaign held at Omobokun Street, Ekimogun Underbridge Iyana-Oworo, Bariga Local Council Development Area, adding that all residents must make good sanitation practices a daily affair.
He said the Advocacy campaign was introduced to promote good sanitation practices amongst residents before the formal commencement of the monthly Sanitation Exercise.
According to him, some houses in the area have been investigated and were found to have channelled their septic tanks into the drainages and some have built their fences on the drainage channels, noting that these houses will soon be sealed by the appropriate Agency.
The Commissioner implored residents to support Government effort through regular cleaning of the drainages in front of their houses and desist from the unwholesome act of illegal waste disposal, saying it is expedient for everyone to take ownership of all infrastructure provided by the government.
On the issue of flooding experienced in the area, Wahab said government will reassess the claims by the community members that the sandfilling carried out at Oworo end is responsible for the flooding incidents encountered in the Ekimogun area, adding that government is determined to proffer a lasting solution to flooding in the area.
He maintained that the environmental advocacy campaign has been effective as the communities earlier visited at the commencement of the initiative have been revisited and it was observed that they have sustained the clean up exercise for a cleaner and healthier environment.
Wahab encouraged residents to embrace Good Environmental Habits, stressing that this would reduce the burden on the health sector and ensure the effects are positive on the infrastructure provided by government.
The Chairman of Bariga Local Council Development Area, Honourable Kolade Alabi said that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu commissioned the Ekimogun Road but it was disheartening that the road is in a sorry state because of the unsanitary attitude of residents.
He said the government is determined to ensure the Environment is always Clean and as such every house in Bariga must own a bin which would be made available by the government at a reasonable amount.
The Managing Director, Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) informed that Bariga Local Government has been identified as one of the Local Council Development Area that will accommodate a recycling facility, adding that the Waste to Wealth facility will reduce illegal waste disposal in the area.
He enjoined all residents to collaborate with the government to ensure that Lagos is free of garbage, saying that waste bins will soon be made available to tenements in Bariga.
In her remarks, the Senior Special Assistant on Environmental Health, Bariga Local Government, Hon. Suliat Oguns pledged the support of people of the Bariga Community, stressing that the community residents would ensure that waste is properly disposed and infrastructure provided by the State Government will be effectively utilised.
