LAWMA
LAWMA MD, Odumboni Lauds Surulere LG For Consistent Clean Environment
…Counsels Others On Waste Sorting, Policing
Rashidat Olushola Okunlade
The Managing Director/CEO of Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni has commended residents of Surulere Local Government Area, for maintaining a consistently clean environment, resulting in the choice as the cleanest local government in Lagos State, during the 2021 metropolitan competition.
Odumboni who gave the commendation at a stakeholder’s meeting on solid waste management across LCDAs in the state, held at the council secretariat, enjoined residents not to rest on their oars, in order to inspire other communities still lagging behind.
Commenting on the essence of implementing sustainable waste management practices in the council, the LAWMA boss noted that the community youths were a worthy resource that should be trained, to police vulnerable areas from indiscriminate waste disposal and black spots.
According to him, “Surulere Local Government is making a significant impact on its youths, with a lot of empowerment going on. Indeed, the sky is your starting point. LAWMA is an advocate of youth empowerment, we are ready to help you train them on waste policing. Let them man areas where cart pushing business is thriving and get them arrested for violating environmental laws of the land.
Speaking further, he said, “Waste sorting is the way to go as the landfills are overstretched. More than four billion plastic bottles are generated annually and it takes about 450 years for a single plastic bottle to dissolve. Therefore, I urge everyone to sort their waste at source, especially organized estates. The same goes for companies, shops, and other businesses. Beginning from April, there will be an increment on the waste bills of estates and organizations who refuse to sort their waste at source’’.
The chairman of the council, Hon. Sulaimon Bamidele Yusuf, in his remarks, commended LAWMA’s effort, adding that the council had acquired a compactor for carting away community waste after environmental sanitation on Thursday.
In another development, LAWMA’s Executive Director, Finance, Mr. Kunle Adebiyi, had charged youths in Epe Local Government and Eredo Local Council Development Area, to be involved in waste policing, to apprehend defaulters whose activities deface the environment.
Mr. Adebiyi, who represented LAWMA’s managing director at the stakeholders’ meetings organized respectively in Epe LGA and Eredo LCDA, observed that residents needed to do more, in the area of cooperation with the PSP operators assigned to their areas, adding that the operators had been mandated to upscale their services and deliver effectively on assigned responsibilities.
Responding, the council-manager for Epe Local Government, Hon. Olakunle Bakare, who represented the council chairman, commended LAWMA for its good job in the town and appealed for more PSP operators in the area.
He hinted at the recruitment of youths as street captains, for waste policing around the town, to ensure a cleaner and more sustainable environment.
On his own part, the Eredo LCDA chairman, represented by his vice, Hon. Lateef Adesanya, also praised LAWMA for its sustained efforts, promising to do the needful to achieve the right environmental behavior by the people.
By Moninuola Sulaiman
LAWMA Academy, the educational arm of Lagos Waste Management Authority, has organised a four-week summer school, for children aged 8 to 12, with the aim of teaching the younger generation the fundamentals of effective
waste management.
The four-week programme began on 31st July 31, 2023, at the Authority’s headquarters, Ijora-Olopa.
Commenting on the program, the managing director/CEO of LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, noted that the summer school was organised to educate the younger generation, on the need to imbibe the culture of proper waste management, to teach arts and crafts, upcycling, as well as expose them to indoor and outdoor sports, field trips, among other activities.
He said, “The Summer School programme is designed to educate children from a tender age on the concept of waste management and environmental sanitation, raising ambassadors for a cleaner and healthier environment with seasoned facilitators in a conducive learning environment. This will serve to train youngsters as conscientious environmental activists while also providing other enjoyable learning opportunities.”
Dr. Gbadegesin advised parents and guardians to always take advantage of the extended school holiday to enroll their children and wards in summer school, adding that those who could not participate physically could join online.
The Academy’s team lead, Mrs. Elizabeth Ademola, noted that it was the third edition of the programme, adding that the summer school was designed to simplify the concept of waste and environmental management for children, to ensure that each child had sufficient and holistic knowledge of environmental sustainability practices.
Since its inception, hundreds of pupils in the state have benefited from the LAWMA Academy’s summer school, acquiring essential waste management and environmental knowledge in the process.
Rashidat Okunlade Writes
The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has organised a free medical screening, for over 1000 sanitation workers (street sweepers) at the Authority’s headquarters, Ijora Olopa.
Speaking at the event, the Acting Managing Director of LAWMA, Mr. Kunle Adebiyi, noted that the exercise was a testament to the commitment of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration, to prioritise the wellness of LAWMA sweepers.
He said, “Your well-being is our priority. Whatever happens to your health, will affect us in one way or the other. Therefore, we don’t want any ill health to befall you. Today, your blood pressure, sugar level, urine, and eye and hepatitis will be checked for proper diagnosis. The aim of this is to manage the health of our workers and detect early
health issues.
Our sweepers are our heroes, we need to take good care of them. We have over 16,000 of them who keep Lagos clean every day. Our aim is to ensure we capture all of them in this screening exercise and there will be follow-ups. Some will be administered for consultation, some will be for referral, and some will be given medications. All of these are to ensure their health is properly managed. We appreciate the Governor for his consistent support”.
The Medical Director of LAWMA, Dr. (Mrs.) Modupe Okoh, noted that the medical screening exercise was a demonstration of the state’s commitment to the welfare of LAWMA’s workforce, adding that early detection of
diseases would go a long way in helping to manage the health of sweepers who work tirelessly.
One of the beneficiaries, Nafisat Rahman, appreciated the state government for the medical checks. In her words: “We do spend a lot on hospital bills, but with this kind of initiative, it will reduce it and we will be more aware of our health status. I want them to continue with this kind of exercise”, she said.
Another beneficiary, Godwin Imeh, said the medical screening exercise was a nice initiative. He encouraged the Authority to continue to prioritise the welfare of sweepers.
In attendance at the event were members of LAWMA’s management staff.
The medical outreach for LAWMA’s sanitation workers is a continuous exercise, with sweepers in other districts in the state set to benefit from the health screening.
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