Editor’s note: In the past, indiscriminate dumping of refuse has been a major concern to Lagos government and the citizens. The Lagos Waste Management Authority, was however, created by law in 2007 to ensure proper collection and disposal of waste throughout the state metropolis.
In an article sent to ZENITHBLOG.com, a concerned Lagos citizen, Salawu Ahmed Olatidoye explains why Governor Akinwunmi Ambode should act very fast over the inefficiency of LAWMA and the increasing refuse dumps in Lagos.
In recent times, the rate at which refuse dump is fast growing in every nook and cranny of Lagos metropolis is alarming. Today, almost every part of Lagos has one or more refuse heaps where people dispose of waste indiscriminately. Thus, it would not be surprising if there’s outbreak of any health hazard within Lagos soon.
The question now is whose fault? The people or the government? This piece is not aimed at passing blames at any party but to put things straight to the appropriate quarters.
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Yes, we would blame the citizens for indiscriminately dumping of refuse. Refuse is supposed to be disposed of properly. The consequence of improper disposal of refuse is costly.
Indiscriminate dumping of refuse in Lagos. Credit: Salawu Ahmed Olatidoye
Ranging from outbreak of disease to flood, it is a public knowledge that the society needs to take good care of refuse to forestall any costly consequence.
However, the citizens today have a great and reliable excuse. Many citizens blame the Lagos state Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) for the indiscriminate disposal of refuse.
For quite sometimes now, the LAWMA has been highly inconsistent and inefficient in its duty of collecting, managing and disposal of waste within the state.
The agency is backed by the LAWMA law 2007 which accrued it with responsibilities ranging from management of commercial, industrial and medical waste, streams, highway sanitation, cleaning of drainages and other water bodies.
Indiscriminate dumping of refuse in Lagos. Credit: Salawu Ahmed Olatidoye
True to this dictate, the agency has since 2007 buckled up to responsibility by collecting waste from house to house and clearing the public waste.
The agency isn’t doing these for free; it has been charging citizens for this wonderful service it has been rendering according to the dictate of LAWMA law.
Today, LAWMA has not defaulted in charging the citizens as usual which the citizens dare not pay. The law is clear and the enforcement is strict. The citizens don’t want to fall prey of the law as stringent punishment await defaulters. Thus, the citizens have continued to pay.
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However, the agency today has failed to neither consistently collect waste from citizens nor clear the public of waste. The citizens have thus continued to dump waste in the public, hoping that LAWMA would one day wake to its responsibilities.
Indiscriminate dumping of refuse on Lagos road. Credit: Salawu Ahmed Olatidoye
Many citizens also complain that they cannot be paying the government agency and also pay cart pushers to help dispose of their waste thus, the need to dump waste at any refuse heap available.
It is highly necessary for the government to call the agency to order and make it gear to its responsibilities for the betterment of the state and her citizens.
Meanwhile, ZENITHBLOG.com had earlier reported that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos state was urged to lift the ban on the monthly environmental sanitation exercise in the state especially to to control flood and other disasters.
The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of ZENITHBLOG.com.
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