TOLA ADENUBI, TUNBOSUN OGUNDARE and SHOLA ADEKOLA write on the management of refuse disposal in Lagos, the apparent return to filth and the efforts of the state government to clean up the state.
WITH its decision, last week, to shut down about four major markets for environmental infractions, the Lagos State government may have indicated its readiness to clamp down on the gradual pollution of the state’s environment with wastes.
Heaps of refuse had also overtaken several parts of the nation’s commercial capital in recent weeks despite past efforts by the authorities to discourage indiscriminate dumping of refuse that is increasingly becoming a norm among some recalcitrant residents.
The Director of Public Affairs, Lagos State Ministry of Environment, Mr Adekunle Adesina, told Saturday Tribune on Thursday that some of the closed markets have been reopened after their managements carried out the necessary measures.
Their offences ranged from reckless waste disposal and unhygienic premises to non-payment of waste evacuation bills.
According to Adesina, the Commissioner for Environment, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, had urged traders, business owners and other stakeholders to keep their environments clean at all times.
“Besides, he said they must drop their wastes in designated waste bins, patronise the PSP operators for proper management and evacuation of waste, and pay their waste bill.
“Hon. Wahab underscored the importance of environmental hygiene in markets, saying it has become imperative that markets in the state adhere strictly to environmental laws and regulations put in place for the well-being of residents,” Adesina said.
However, the Apapa Oshodi Expressway, especially from the median between Tin Can Port and Mile-2 of the ever-busy dual carriageway, currently stinks, due to indiscriminate dumping of refuse on the highway.
From the Mile-2 end of the major port access road, the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, up to the second gate axis of the road in front of Tin-Can Island Port, heaps of refuse adorn the road leading to the port.
Efforts to rid the ports’ access roads of these heaps of refuse seem to fail as new heaps appear as soon as old ones are evacuated.
Speaking recently when members of the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) paid her a courtesy visit in her office, the chairman of Apapa Local Government Area, Idowu Adejumoke Senbanjo, lamented the increasing heaps of refuse in the Tin-Can Island area of Apapa, saying that despite the removal of 200 trailer-loads of refuse last year, the situation persisted.
The local government boss blamed the activities of truckers’ motor boys and road side hawkers for the increasing wastes in Apapa.
Senbanjo said: “During the cholera outbreak in 2022, we cleared over 200 trailer-loads of refuse waste from Tin-Can Island, yet the refuse heaps didn’t go away. Rather, they have kept increasing.
“When the trailers left and we looked around, we realised that we have not even cleared half of the refuse waste in Tin-Can.
“The removal of debris in Apapa is a Herculean task and the local government cannot do it alone.
“Every day, our trucks are out there clearing debris scattered across Apapa, especially in Tin-Can. The waste disposal agencies of the Lagos State government, due to traffic issues around Apapa, have practically left Apapa to its fate as regards refuse evacuation.
“As a local government, we have employed, and we keep employing, people to help remove waste in Apapa environment.
“But as soon as a heap of refuse is cleared, go there the next day, you will see another one at the same spot.
“The motor-boys on most trailers visiting Apapa and the street hawkers are mostly to blame for the re-appearance of these heaps of refuse.”
During his recent inspection tour in Lagos, the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, decried the state of the reconstructed Apapa-Oshodi Expressway following its takeover by refuse along the median between Tin Can Port and Mile-2 of the dual carriageway.
The minister said it was bad to see the expressway being taken over by refuse after huge sums of money had been spent to reconstruct to its present state.
Describing the situation as unacceptable, he promised to discuss with the state governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, over the matter.
Markets
Major markets across the state seem not to have fared better as the state government recently had to shut down some markets due to poor waste management that was threatening to cause serious health hazards for residents.
In a recent clampdown by the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Oyingbo and Alayabiagba markets in Lagos Mainland were shut down while warnings were issued to Tejuosho Model Market Phase 1, Ladipo Market in Mushin, Anjorin Market, Irewolede Plank Market, Idi-Araba Obele Market, Oni Baba Market, Oba Morufu International Market, formerly known as Ejigbo Market, Ijora 7-UP Market, Okeafa Plank Market, Ifelodun Fruit Market, and Amukoko Market.
Commenting on the development, the Managing Director of LAWMA, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, said the agency’s decision to shut down the markets was arrived at after several warnings about their non-compliance with the state’s environmental protection laws which emphasise zero tolerance for environmental offences such as indiscriminate dumping of refuse, willful defacing of the environment and refusal to pay for waste services.
“LAWMA has continued to work relentlessly to improve the environment across the state, particularly commercial centres, by putting in place several measures aimed at maintaining the cleanliness of the city. However, some individuals and markets are busy undermining our efforts by refusing to abide by the laws and regulations. As the need arises, such individuals, dealers, and markets, will be dealt with, in accordance with the law,” he said.
The LAWMA boss warned that other markets engaging in irresponsible waste disposal and other environmental violations would face similar consequences if they refused to turn a new leaf. He added that the executive members of such markets would also be held accountable.
“It is imperative that we hold businesses accountable for their environmental responsibilities. This enforcement action by LAWMA aims to promote a culture of compliance and create a more livable city for all residents. I also want to emphasise that once a market is closed, it would meet all requirements before being reopened,” he said.
He disclosed that the agency was seeking collaboration with market associations, local authorities and other stakeholders to ensure the success of the initiatives, adding that the agency would provide guidance and support to markets towards establishing efficient waste management systems that comply with established regulations.
Dr Gbadegesin urged markets in the state to support LAWMA’s efforts by following stipulated waste management guidelines.
He said with the agency’s concerted efforts and cooperation of residents, the state would witness significant improvement in waste management, resulting in a cleaner and healthier environment for all.
PSP snub at Shasha, Ijaiye, Abule-Egba
Moving round the Shasha/Bammeke/Oguntade axis for example, it is an embarrassing sight to behold in view of the smell that oozes out of the heaps of refuse, most of which have been left uncleared by the designated PSP operators for months.
In places like Church Street, Ikire Street, Sokunbi Street, all within Bammeke, residents now live with mostly badly decayed refuse owing to long period of neglect by the PSP operators.
Many of the operators have become a thorn in the flesh of the residents as they default on the agreements they signed with the state government to at least evacuate refuse twice a week.
In the midst of the environmental pollution, many of the affected residents who spoke to Saturday Tribune lamented how the PSP operators continue to levy them on the job they fail to carry out.
Mrs Bolujoko who lives between Bammeke and Oguntade, said a heap of refuse adorning the front of her house had become a source of worry to the tenants and the landlords who live on both street.
“The negligence on the part of the PSP operators has been attributed to the over indulgence of the state government who ignored their incompetence for political patronage,” Mrs Bolujoko lamented.
Most of the refuse operators, according to residents, often boast belonging to the ruling party in the state and so they can always eat their cake and have it.
Mrs Bolujoko, however, urged the state government to invalidate the contract signed with the present crop of PSP operators and engage committed ones.
Residents of Ijaiye, Abule-Egba, Alakuko, Agbado Kollington, Jankara, Lambe, Meiran, Adura, Olaniyi, Puposola, U-Turn, Ahmaddiya, Berkley Estate, Fagba, Iju-Ishaga Powerline axis and so forth are also not happy about the poor service delivery of the waste collectors amid incessant increase in their fees.
They said the manner in which the waste collectors serving the areas increase their tariffs now and then without providing a commensurate service is worrisome.
Checks by Saturday Tribune revealed some companies serving the axis.
Speaking with Saturday Tribune, Mr Adesina Olanrewaju, who lives in the Jesu OseunAbule-Egba area described reasons given by the waste managers for the frequent increase in their charges as weak.
“Before, I was paying N1,500 monthly to (the company’s name withheld). They later increased the charges to N1,800 and now to N2,000, yet they come just once in three weeks
“By the time they come, refuse has littered everywhere. We complain to those who come to evacuate the wastes, but nothing has changed,” Mr Olanreawaju pointed out.
He explained that like other companies, the company also collects two months tariffs together with the first month serving as arrear payment and the second month as up-front payment for services not yet rendered.
He noted that the company would not even wait till the end of the first month before demanding payment receipt for both months.
“And you are on your own once you are unable to have payment evidence displayed conspicuously on the gate or wall of your house, as your waste will not be evacuated.
“So, we are not satisfied with their service, but we have no option as the state government forced them on us,” he declared.
Adesina, just like other customers, asked the state governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to wade into the matter as the incessant increment is further putting them under financial pressure.
Commenting on the erring PSP operators, Director, Public Relations, LAWMA, Mrs Shade Kadiri, said the agency had a monitoring and compliance department that monitors their activities
She said: “Our records tell us which PSP is working and which is not. Residents can also call us on our toll-free lines to report them.
“We often have stakeholders meeting comprising PSP, CDA/CDC and landlord associations with LAWMA in attendance where issues are ironed out.”
“An erring PSP gets a warning for non-performance upon investigation and seeing same to be true. If there are no changes, it gets a query and if there still are no changes, it is removed from that route completely. If bigger wards, the ward can be divided into two and a part given to another who has capacity,” she said.
Will monthly sanitation return?
Governor Sanwo-Olu recently hinted of the likely return of the state-wide monthly sanitation, expressing displeasure with the continued disregard for environmental laws, especially by those trading by roadsides and under bridges across the state.
Sanwo-Olu gave the hint while inspecting some parts of the state to monitor compliance with the government’s environmental sanitation efforts. He restated his administration’s zero tolerance for illegal trading on roads, bridges and setbacks across the metropolis.
The governor, who moved from Marina to Orile Iganmu, Alaba Suru, Mile 2 and down to Apongbon, was accompanied by the Commissioner for Environment, Tokunbo Wahab; his counterpart in the Information and Strategy Ministry, Mr Gbenga Omotoso, Seun Osiyemi (Transportation); Mr Sola Giwa (SA Transport), among other government functionaries.
This was just as he urged commercial bus drivers to comport themselves and stay within the garages allocated to them.
The governor said: “We need to do a bit of road clean-up, but business owners in the areas we visited have expressed their commitment to henceforth keeping their environment clean at all times.
“We also went under the Apongbon Bridge to see what is happening there, especially given the unfortunate incident of last year. Let me reiterate the government’s zero tolerance policy for trading under the bridges in Lagos.
“Our commercial bus drivers also need to comport themselves; they need to organise themselves and stay within the parking garages that have been allocated to them. The ones at Apongbon are well behaved, and we hope they will continue like this.
“This exercise will continue next week as I hope to reach every part of the city to tell our people why we need to clean up and ensure a regeneration of our neighborhood.
“I will also be consulting with the Ministry of Environment to see if it is possible to re-introduce the monthly environmental sanitation so we can bring back the sanity of a live-able city that we used to know.
“We have seen a lot of lopsidedness and recklessness, and we need to curtail all abuses on our environment. We will work out a model to sustain our zero tolerance on environmental and transportation infractions.”
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