With July the effective date of the newly signed Lagos State environmental laws around the corner by the Executive Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, residents of Alimosho and Lagos at large cannot wait any longer as every nook and crannies are now littered with wastes, from major streets to bus stops. One is quickly reminded of the military era when heaps of wastes were almost a norm.
With few days to the month of July residents can only pray that the law takes effect to avoid total breakdown in waste management in the state. Lagosians will anticipate an expedite actions on the evacuation cum collection of these refuse with an appropriate substitution to the abolished monthly environmental sanitation exercise which has increased the lackadaisical attitude of Lagosians to a clean environment.
It has also become obvious that the Public Private Partnership currently in place with the PSP operators seem to have been grounded with the operators running out of idea; as they now encourage littering of streets with their racketeer trucks or turning the streets to their garages without minding the health hazard the stench smells that come from these trucks.
With the heavy down pour being experienced in Lagos, these refuse will further add toll of hardship with road users by causing flooding at any slighted rain drop, from Gowon Estate’s 52 Road/Remi Ogunjimi Street junction which has become a full-fledged dump site; aided by the illegal construction of stalls by the Mosan-Okunola LCDA; these stalls which replaced the former makeshift shops seem to be encouraging this ill act. The sight at Egbeda bus stop is also worrisome as it is gradually taking one of the lanes their leaving motorists and pedestrians to jostle for the other lane, it is more worrisome as food items are sole right in front of this heap of refuse.
We enjoin authorities to urgently provide a short term alternative to evacuate these spots and other not mentioned while hoping that the laws will take care of these challenges once it commences.
