AS part of efforts to stimulate greater interest the Lagos State Government on Saturday unveiled plans to launch a state-wide cleanliness competition across all 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) to also drive community-led environmental hygiene and recognise the cleanest localities in the state.
First Lady and wife of the governor Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu disclosed the initiative during the monthly environmental sanitation monitoring exercise for October in Ikorodu.
According to a statement signed by the Director of Public Affairs for the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources Sanwo-Olu who was accompanied by Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources Tokunbo Wahab and Special Adviser on Environment Engr. Kunle Rotimi- Akodu also strongly defended the relevance of the monthly clean up against public criticism saying it had been beneficial to the health and wellbeing of the citizenry.
Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu expressed satisfaction with the high level of community participation and environmental standard observed along major roads and commercial hubs in Ikorodu while the exercise lasted.
‘I am very impressed. I noticed that the people have taken our environmental sanitation campaign very seriously. While we were coming I was looking at the cleanliness along the roads especially in the market spaces’ Sanwo-Olu stated.
While appraising the early turnout of young residents waste management crews traffic officers and traditional leaders she added: ‘Importantly we noticed our children; they had been here since 6:00 a.m. They had been cleaning even before I came. The LAWMA staff members were also working and the sweepers were outside. All hands were on deck.’
While challenging Ikorodu residents to sustain the momentum and aim for top honours in the upcoming council-wide competition Mrs Sanwo-Olu urged residents to embrace hygiene as a daily routine rather than a monthly obligation.
‘My message to the residents is that they should keep Lagos clean and not only wait till we have our environmental sanitation day but make sure that Ikorodu comes first in the competition ahead.
‘All the local governments will take part and the Ministry will announce the best or the cleanest environment in Lagos very soon’ she said.
Meanwhile in a simultaneous exercise held in Ikeja Local Government Area and led by the Head of Service Mr Bode Agoro he warned residents against dumping waste into canals and drainage channels cautioning that the unwholesome practice severely threatens public sanitation and heightens the risk of flash flooding across the state.
Agoro was accompanied by the Chairman of Ikeja Local Government Area Akeem Olalekan Dauda; Permanent Secretaries in the Office of Environmental Services Gaji Tajudeen and Drainage Services Engr. Olakunle Adegbite and other Perm Secs.
Agoro also used the occasion to call on local government bosses and community leaders to actively mobilise residents to improve environmental standards in their domains.
He stressed that maintaining environmental hygiene requires continuous civic commitment.
Agoro stated that officials personally observed residents discarding refuse into local waterways during the exercise.
The First Lady while contributing to some public debates on the necessity of the monthly sanitation exercise dismissed claims that the program was a waste of state resources.
She likened the recurring monthly sanitation awareness exercise to mandatory pre-flight safety briefings on commercial airlines that passengers are compulsorily exposed to.
‘It might seem unnecessary to some people but awareness is a continuous exercise. It is just like when you enter a plane; every time you board the plane they remind you whether you are in first class or economy class to fasten your seat belts.
‘So it is a continuous exercise. There may be some teething problems but we will overcome them eventually’ Sanwo-Olu explained.
She called on residents to replicate the civic effort within their immediate households schools markets and local wards to ensure a healthier state eco-system.
Areas touched by the First Lady and her entourage include Ajina community Oriwu Road Ladega Street and Alagbe Street while the cleanup operations in Ikeja covered key corridors including Onilekere Street Saidu Street Olumo Street Ijesha Close and Olukoyi Street.