Nigeria, June 23, 2016 – The Lagos State Government has declared that June 2016 Environmental Sanitation Exercise will hold on Saturday, June 25, 2016.
But the exercise will be dedicated to cleaning of drains and canals across the state, to allow for free flow of water as the raining reason gathers momentum.
Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Babatunde Adejare, in a press statement, reinstated that the Sanitation Exercise will be observed state-wide between the usual hours of 7:00am-10.00am on Saturday 25th June, 2016, during which, as usual, there will be restriction of human and vehicular movement across the State.
Adejare implored Lagosians to come out en-masse on Saturday to clean and clear the drains in their neighbourhood so as to continually prevent flooding in the state.
He warned that the period of environmental sanitation should not be used for any social engagement or sporting activities, but for serious cleaning and sanitation exercises.
“As we are all aware, Lagos is a coastal city that has high water table levels and prone to flash-floods whenever it rains. We must therefore imbibe habits which will reduce to the barest minimum the incidence of flooding in the State”.
He said that the target of the state this year is to sustain past record of flood abatement, thus making it possible for the State not to experience flooding as in the past years, adding that, “this can only be achieved through effective collaboration of the people.”
The Commissioner advised residents of the State to desist from dumping waste arbitrarily into the drainage channels and canals in order to maintain a flood-free Lagos. He also warned residents who still patronize cart pushers to desist from the illegal act as it is still an offence. He advised them to dispose their waste through LAWMA/PSP Operators.
He urged the entire residents, to ensure that their environment is kept clean at all times and free from storm water stagnation, which could also be a breeding ground for mosquitoes and other health hazards.
He therefore, warned inter-state Bus and Luxurious Bus Operators, Transport Owners and Road Transport Workers to comply with the restriction order on human and vehicular movement between 7.00am-10.00am, stating that anyone caught violating this order will be apprehended and prosecuted, while passengers in such vehicles will also be prosecuted according to the State’s Environmental Sanitation Laws.
Adejare further assured that Law Enforcement Agencies, including Nigeria Police and officials from LAWMA, LASTMA and KAI have been fully mobilized to enforce the restriction of movement order adding that offenders will be prosecuted according to the State Sanitation Laws.
The Commissioner assured the people of Lagos of the commitment and determination of the State Government to attain a sustainable safe and clean environment. He therefore urged Lagosians to support Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s vision of a cleaner and healthier Lagos by abstaining from bad environmental practices such as open defecation and urination, littering of the highways and roads.
