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.

…sentenced to 144 hours of community service

In a stern reminder of the importance of responsible waste management, a woman has been apprehended by the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) enforcement team, for illegally emptying her waste bin into a drainage channel.

The arrested woman, Rukayat Oderinde of number 17, Hassan Ogumola Street, Ahmadiyya, Lagos, was caught red-handed on camera while she was disposing of her household waste directly into the drainage channel, an act strictly prohibited under existing waste management regulations in the state, as they posed serious threats to the overall cleanliness and functionality of the drainage system.

Responding to this, the Managing Director/CEO of LAWMA, Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni, said that improper waste disposal, particularly through drainage channels, could lead to clogged drains, which in turn caused flooding during heavy rains, adding that this not only disrupted daily life but also jeopardised the safety and health of the community.

“Blockages in drainage channels can result in stagnant water, becoming breeding grounds for disease-carrying mosquitoes and other harmful pests. I commend the LAWMA enforcement team who wasted no time in apprehending the woman. This emphasises our commitment to maintaining a clean and healthy environment for all residents.

The woman was arrested and sentenced to 144 hours of community service by the court, for violating waste management regulations. This incident serves as a stark reminder to residents that improper waste disposal will not be tolerated and will be met with strict enforcement”, he said.

The environmental offender is expected to commence her 8 hours per day community service from Ahmadiyya to Salolo route, for the next 18 days, cleaning the environment.

Odumboni reminded residents about the need to engage in proper methods of waste disposal and the potential consequences of non-compliance, urging them to use designated waste bins and containers for their household waste.

He implored the populace to patronise assigned PSP operators whose duty is to ensure seamless disposal of waste generated by tenements, adding that residents should call LAWMA toll-free numbers 07080601020 and 617, for any environmental infractions observed in their area.

…arraigns 30 culprits

…calls for proper waste management among residents

The enforcement unit of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has launched a robust operation to dislodge scavengers and miscreants from illegal dumpsites across neighborhoods in the city, for a cleaner and
healthier environment.

In the past few days, the LAWMA enforcement team has been routinely patrolling neighborhoods across the state, notorious for illegal refuse dumping and the presence of scavengers, rummaging through waste piles, contributing to littering and unsightly landscapes and public spaces.

Commenting, the Managing Director/CEO of LAWMA, Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni, expressed concern over residents’ increasing disregard for proper waste management practices, stressing the importance of prompt payment for
waste services, and the negative consequences of indiscriminate disposal.

He said, “The activities of scavengers and miscreants not only deface our cities but also pose serious health hazards to residents. It is disheartening to see some individuals engaging in indiscriminate disposal because they do not want to pay for waste services. This behavior undermines the efforts of LAWMA and hampers our progress towards maintaining a clean and healthy environment”.

During the enforcement operations, the LAWMA team dismantled shanties and illegal structures, apprehending individuals caught engaging in indiscriminate waste disposal, at various locations in Ipaja, Ikate-Surulere, and Ikeja, preparatory to the prosecution of nothing less than 30 persons caught.

The LAWMA boss stressed the need for residents to take responsibility for their waste and participate actively in proper waste management practices, urging them to utilise the services of PSP operators, to ensure scheduled collection of their waste, as well as take advantage of various waste recycling initiatives introduced by the authority.

“To achieve a cleaner and healthier city, it is crucial for residents to play their part in waste management. LAWMA, through PSP operators, is working relentlessly to ensure efficient waste collection services, and we urge residents to take advantage of these services. By properly sorting and disposing of waste, we can establish a better quality of life for everyone”, he stressed.

Odumboni stated further, that LAWMA had continued to embark on awareness campaigns alongside the enforcement operations, to educate residents on the importance of proper waste management, adding that the advocacy drive included community engagements, door-to-door visits, and the distribution of educational materials, for enlightenment on waste segregation and responsible disposal.

He called on residents to support the efforts of the Authority, by adhering to waste management guidelines, adding that, with concerted efforts of the agency and active participation of residents, the state would witness a significant improvement in waste management, resulting in a cleaner and healthier environment for all.