Lagos State Govt Warns Residents Against Indiscriminate Dumping Of Refuse

AKINSINDE TUNDE EMMANUEL

Lagos State Government has called on residents to stop indiscriminate dumping of refuse and clear their tertiary drains to avert an outbreak of disease.

The State Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Mrs. Yetunde Arobieke, gave the warning during a joint inspection tour of the drainage channels in Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government and Ifelodun Local Council Development Area.

Arobieke, in company of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Drainage and Water Resources, Mr. Joe Igbokwe and other top Government functionaries, said that there is a need for Lagos residents to stop indiscriminate dumping of generated waste into tertiary drains in order to prevent the blockage of wastewater to the primary and secondary drainage channels.

While noting that the obstruction of drainages can cause other environmental challenges and health problems, she charged the environmental sanitation officers in all the local government councils to be alive to their responsibilities and embark on advocacy programmes that will yield a positive result.

In his remark, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Drainage and Water Resources, Mr. Joe Igbokwe, admonished the residents for indiscriminate dumping of refuse in drainage channels saying, “Clearing of tertiary drainage channels is a collective effort of both the residents and the local government councils. Ensure to clear your drains and allow free flow of water to avoid flooding of our roads”.

The Chairman of Ajeromi-Ifelodun LGA, Mr. Fatai Adekunle Ayoola, who led the team on the inspection tour of the drainage channels in the communities, commended the State government for the intervention, noting that he has commenced the distilling of blocked tertiary drains in Cemetery and Iyalode Street amongst others.

The team also inspected the drainage channels at Baale Okoya Street and Amai Street at Ifelodun Local Council Development Area (LCDA).