2 weeks Ago By Admin2
LAGOS – The Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) has acknowledged an appreciable level of compliance with some environmental laws and regulations in the state, attributing it to efforts intensified by the State Government to maintain a clean and healthy environment. The Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services (OES), Lagos Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Dr. Omobolaji Gaji, who gave the acknowledgement on Thursday in Lagos, emphasized the critical role of community involvement in fostering environmental compliance.
Speaking during a Stakeholders’ and Community Engagement Meeting held at the Multi-Purpose Hall, Multi-Agency Safety Arena Complex in Bolade-Oshodi, under the theme ‘Community Engagement: A Catalyst for Enhancing Environmental Compliance.’ He remarked that Lagos, being a cosmopolitan city with a budding population that fuels the wheels of commerce via the formal and informal sectors, makes the State prone to all kinds of environmental infractions, hence the need for all hands to be on deck to salvage the environment. Highlighting the efforts of the Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC), popularly known as KAI, the Permanent Secretary who was represented by a Deputy Director in the Ministry, Mrs.
Tope Ilori, praised the Corps for their relentless enforcement, advocacy, and monitoring activities. He noted that the leadership of Corps Marshal, Major Olatunbosun Olaniyi Cole (Rtd), has significantly contributed to the Corps’ success and recognition. The Permanent Secretary outlined several measures undertaken by the Ministry to address environmental challenges including the removal of contravening buildings that block waterways, a ban on Styrofoam to prevent environmental hazards, and a recent agreement with Harvest Waste Consortium, a Dutch firm, for the construction of a Waste-to-Energy plant at the Epe landfill.
Speaking specifically, the Corps Marshal of LAGESC, Major Olatunbosun Olaniyi Cole (Rtd), confirmed that the rate at which Lagosians cross expressways where there are pedestrian bridges has reduced, saying that same level of compliance is needed particularly in the area of proper waste management and environmental cleanliness. While saying that 5,000 environmental offenders were prosecuted in the last six months, the Corps Marshal emphasized the need for continuous and enhanced cooperation from all residents in the proper disposal of refuse. Major Cole warned that improper waste disposal practices can lead to severe consequences, particularly flooding, which has historically plagued various parts of the state during the rainy season.
He added that the agency is ramping up its public awareness campaigns to educate residents on the detrimental effects of environmental pollution and the critical role each individual plays in maintaining a flood-free Lagos..
