Lagos State Government has intensified efforts to engage residents in its environmental sustainability drive, with a renewed focus on sanitation and the importance of preserving the state’s infrastructure.
In a strategic move on Tuesday, state officials, led by the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, conducted a sanitation advocacy campaign across several key locations, appealing to residents and traders to prioritize environmental responsibility.
The sanitation inspection and advocacy visit took officials to the Oyingbo market, where Wahab addressed traders who had been displaying their goods on newly constructed drainage channels.
These vendors were given a 48-hour deadline to relocate their wares from the median and walkways, with Wahab urging them to use designated stalls instead.
He emphasized that illegal trading on drainage systems not only posed safety risks but had the potential to block vital infrastructure, including the drainage systems that had recently been upgraded.
“Illegal trading activities have virtually blocked the newly constructed drainage system, and I appeal to traders to understand the importance of relocating to safer, more appropriate areas,” Wahab stated.
He warned that if the traders did not comply, enforcement measures would be initiated promptly after the close of business the following day.
The advocacy team also visited other affected areas, including the Eko Hotel/Zenith Roundabout and its surrounding regions, where Wahab noted that the drainage channels had been turned into an illegal marketplace.
Again, he urged traders to vacate the space and relocate to proper market areas to prevent further environmental degradation.
During the inspection of the Idumota/Ebute Ero Police Post overhead bridge on Lagos Island, Wahab instructed the removal of physical structures attached to the bridge, highlighting that such structures posed serious environmental and safety hazards.
“While we want businesses to thrive, it is crucial that they operate responsibly and avoid creating environmental nuisances,” Wahab emphasized.
A key focus of the visit was Outer Marina by CFAO/Elegbata, where a major drainage channel, previously blocked by construction, was being reopened to prevent flooding in the area. Wahab explained that the collaboration between the State and Federal governments would resolve the flooding issue once and for all.
“The blockage had caused extensive damage to the road and contributed to the persistent flooding issue in this area,” Wahab explained.
Wahab appealed to residents to reduce waste disposal in drainage systems to prevent clogging, particularly in anticipation of the forthcoming rainy season.
He urged citizens to stop using styrofoam containers and support the government’s initiative to phase out single-use plastics, stressing the importance of community involvement in the sustainability effort.
“We cannot achieve lasting environmental change without the full cooperation of the people.
“We are providing resilient infrastructure, but the residents must change their habits to ensure these systems are not overwhelmed by waste,”he said.
Wahab also assured that the one-on-one sanitation advocacy campaign would continue to other key markets and streets across Lagos, with visits already planned for Yaba and Ojo.
The enforcement of sanitation rules would complement these efforts, with the government ensuring that both advocacy and enforcement go hand in hand.
The Commissioner was accompanied on the tour by key officials, including Engr. Mahamood Adegbite, Permanent Secretary at the Office of Drainage Services; Engr. Adefemi Afolabi, General Manager of LASWMO; Major Olatubosun Cole (Rtd), KAI Corps Marshall; and several directors from the Ministry and its Agencies.
The locations visited during the advocacy tour included Ebute Ero, Idumota, Outer Marina by CFAO/Elegbata, Eko Hotel Zenith Roundabout, and Oyingbo Market.
