We’ll Rid Lagos Of All Forms Of Environmental Infractions – Tokunbo Wahab
The Lagos State Government on Thursday charged Environmental Health Officers (EHO) across the 57 Local Government and Local Council Development Areas to work in synergy with the Ministry to achieve a clean, safe and sustainable environment.
The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Barr. Tokunbo Wahab gave this charge during a meeting with the officers at Alausa, Secretariat, adding that the combined efforts of the Ministry and the officers would continue to rid the state of all forms of Environmental infractions.
He said the meeting became necessary to ramp up enforcement of the ban and distribution of Styrofoam food packs and trays across the state, stressing that the pronouncement on the ban on Styrofoam was made over three years ago but the law was never enforced until now.
He explained that Lagos is a coastal state and as such it is prone to flooding, noting that global warming is real and every government needs to put measures in place to mitigate its effects on the Environment.
He said that the Ministry is set to rejig the operation of all Environmental Health Officers across the Local Government Areas to effectively enforce the law while reiterating that officers will be deployed to supermarkets, retailers and wholesalers to mop up empty styrofoam food containers/trays in stock for onward transmission to the shredding site at Oshodi.
According to him, the number of lives that have been lost through the effect of the use of styrofoam food packs, the destruction of the ecosystem and aquatic lives as well as the menace brought upon the environment cannot be quantified.
The Commissioner, therefore, appealed to the health officers to collaborate with the Ministry to ramp up enforcement on the ban of usage and distribution of all forms of styrofoam food packs and trays across the state, revealing that additional KAI officers that will be employed soon will be deployed to the Local Governments to complement the activities of the Environmental Health officers.
The Special Adviser on Environment, Mr. Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu also urged the officers to support the efforts of the Government to achieve fruitful enforcement of the ban on usage and distribution of all forms of styrofoam food packs and trays across the state.
He said now is the time to save the environment from the menace of styrofoam by coming up with substitutes such as takeaway packs and trays as this particular product in question is highly hazardous to health.
Earlier, the Head of Department, Environmental Health Department, Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government, Sanitarian Cyril Babasope said the officers are set and will continue to work in synergy with the Ministry to ensure the environment is protected from all forms of environmental challenges that range from Open defecation to dislodgement of illegal settlements amongst others.
He also cited political interference as one of the factors limiting the effectiveness of their operations and urged the Commissioner to use his good offices to prevail over political leaders to allow them to enforce the laws on sanitation.
The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab also met with the Fellows from the Jakande Leadership Academy on a courtesy visit to the Ministry, stating that leadership is a huge responsibility and if given to the wrong hands may endanger the society. As such, governments globally are investing heavily in the youth.
He said finding the right people and grooming them can be a little tough at times but commended Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu for creating the academy while adding that the fellows are getting desired guidance from the institute.
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