Lagos State Government has warned that anyone caught violating environmental laws within the state will face the full wrath of the law as it has launched a full-scale war on indiscriminate disposal of waste in the state
Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Babatunde Adejare, made the declaration at an interactive session with media chiefs in Lagos at the weekend.
The commissioner spoke against the backdrop of the worsening situation where some Lagos residents have formed the habit of dumping waste at illegal spots, thereby, sabotaging on-going efforts to rid the state of filth.
Adejare noted with concern that soon after littered black spots and illegal dumping sites were cleared, some residents would return and dump waste at the same spots.
He urged residents to use approved and legitimate dumping sites to dispose their refuse to avoid arrest and prosecution.
“The Cleaner Lagos Initiative (CLI) was borne out of the need for Lagos to employ the operating standards adopted by other countries in the area of waste management. With the introduction of the CLI, we have launched a full-scale war on improper waste management within the state.
“The CLI is the solution to the recurring complaints about the manner waste is disposed within the state. I have no doubt that it will be a huge success when we roll it out fully by next year,” he said.
Taking a cue from Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, who urged Lagos residents during his budget presentation speech to pay their Public Utility Levy (PUL), Adejare said the PUL is a consolidated fee replacing former waste charges collected by the government from property owners and residents. He said the new policy would help in optimising efficiency in the waste management process and, therefore, enjoined Lagosians to pay their bills as at when due.
On the dispute between Private Sector Participants (PSPs) and the state government, Adejare said the PSPs lacked the capacity to handle the over 10,000 metric tonnes of waste generated in Lagos daily in an effective and scientific manner, adding that Lagosians would see the impact of the new arrangement when it becomes fully operational.
He said Ambode had already mandated officials of the state to ensure the PSPs were accommodated in the CLI, believing that indigenous operators must play a part in the process.
Adejare said as a result, qualified PSPs would handle the evacuation of commercial wastes in the state under the CLI.
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