Lagos may introduce smart bins to combat indiscriminate waste disposal

LAGOS, Nigeria – Lagos State Government intensifies its monthly sanitation awareness programme, it has hinted of plans to introduce smart waste bins for every tenement in the state.

This statement was made by the Special Adviser on Environment, Mr Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu when he led other state officials during the ongoing weekly sanitation awareness and cleaning exercise held at Ajeromi Local Government adding that indiscriminate Waste disposal is a major contributor to prevalence of communicable diseases.

Akodu who was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services, Mr. Gaji Omobolaji and Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Services Engr Mahamood Adegbite said the issue of a cleaner environment is a serious issue that requires the collective effort of Government and the Citizens.

Akodu said the Smart Bin had become neccesary to monitor the activities of PSP operators as well as the refuse disposal rate of Lagosians, appealing to residents and market leaders in the area to make clean environment a priority as they go about their daily business activities.

The Special Adviser noted that it was unfortunate that Lagos State was one of the states where Cholera broke out, saying this is a result of persistent insanitary habits of some of the residents.

He reiterated that the team is embarking on the weekly exercise to encourage the citizenry to have a changed mindset and imbibe the culture of cleanliness towards the environment.

“We want to work more with the people and raise the bar on good sanitary practices; we are ramping up our advocacy and sensitization to achieve a positive change and ideology of the people” he said.

He said the present Administration is deeply concerned about achieving a clean environment and wellbeing of the residents, but it is disheartening that most roads, road medians markets and motor parks across the metropolis were adorned with refuse dumped by residents who do not want to patronise PSP operators.

He added that from the stretch of Marine beach and Mobil Road towards  Ajegunle boundary to Alayabiagba market, the roadside and road median were filled with heaps of wastes adding that the corpse of a baby was found on the roadside during the exercise, saying that now is the time for everyone to desist from the unwholesome act against the environment.

He recalled that the Alayabiagba market was closed last year because of the insanitary habits of traders saying the market is gradually deviating from the standards set by government after it was reopened.

He stated that reports gathered from the weekly Community Sanitation Exercise / Advocacy campaign has revealed that majority of the people are yearning for the return of the Monthly Environmental Sanitation Exercise across the state.

“We must therefore stop littering our market, and motor parks with wastes, we must bag our wastes in our respective market and homes and ensure we patronize PSP operators, stop creating illegal dumpsites on road medians, kerbs, open spaces, and road setbacks and start policing our environment”, he emphasized.

He appealed to the community leaders and market leaders present to educate the people on the dangers of dumping on the road median as was noticed along the stretch of Marine beach and Mobil Road in the axis.

The Managing Director, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin explained expatiated that the State Government would soon role out Smart Bins with notifications for all houses stressing that the chips attached to the bins would notify LAWMA when the PSP Operators fail to pick up wastes at the appropriate time.

He said safe, clean and sustainable environment is the function of all residents and not the government alone adding that everyone must make good sanitation practices a way of life and support the effort of the government.

In their responses, a cross section of the community leaders including the Baale, Babaloja of Ajeromi Ifelodun and CDC Chairman present all appealed to the State Government to reconsider the introduction of monthly sanitation exercise.

The clamored that in the very recent past most market and areas had waste police which prevented littering, adding more people need to be enlisted to become LAWMA policemen in our neighbourhoods.

The Special Adviser was also accompanied by the Managing Director LAWMA, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin; General Manager LASPARK, Mrs. Toun Popoola; KAI Marshal, Major Olatunbosun Cole (Rtd); General Manager, LASWMO, Engr. Adefemi Afolabi and some Directors from the ministry.

The team visited Mobil Road/ Apapa / Ajeromi / Ajegunle boundary and Alayabiagba market.