November 28, 2015 – Lagos State Government today expressed frustration about activities of the military and policemen during the monthly environmental sanitation, stressing that that are serving as obstacle in the enforcement of law and order.
Deputy Governor of the state, Dr. Idiat Oluranti Adebule made the disclosure while fielding questions from journalists shortly after monitoring the sanitation exercise in Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government Area. Adebule said the military and policemen did not only disregard the state’s environmental laws but were caught helping to drive commercial vehicles to violate laws, using their uniform and guns.
“We have gone round Lagos especially Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government. We are dissatisfied with the level of compliance to the sanitation law. There was clear disregard for the sanitation law. I am using this opportunity to appeal to the officers of Nigerian Army and other security agencies to desist from violating the law.
“I discovered that the military officers, policemen are the ones leading the violation in the state. I want to urge their heads to call them to order. They must lead by example.
“They are the law enforcement officers in the country. But it is pathetic that they are violating the law. We will appreciate if they comply with the sanitation law. It is very important to us.
“They should please save the law. They should own it. When we do this, we will be able to feel the impact of clean environment that leads to good health. I want to urge that that within the three hours stipulated for the sanitation, they should call one another and clean their environment.”
For those that were arrested, Adebule said the state government has no option than to ensure that they are prosecuted in accordance with the state’s environmental laws.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of Ifelodun Local Council Development Area, Mr Wahab Adebayo called on the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode to intervene in the dredging of drainage channels in the council.
The council boss, said the area is presently confronting several environmental challenges due to the population density, affirming that the challenges in the council are enormous for the council authority to bear.
“Like I said earlier, the growing population is rendering us incapacitated. The refuse generated is much, the PSP operators are trying their best but the population density compounds our challenges on the environmental issues.
“Whenever we experience heavy downpour, the entire road is usually flooded with water from the Sule Lane canal. So, we are appealing to the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode-led state government to quickly intervene in the dredging of the blocked canal and other environmental challenges we are facing.”
