By Kingsley Adegboye

The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, has stressed the need for attitudinal change and proper disposal of wastes to sustain a clean environment. The Governor who spoke  at the 5th sensitisation and awareness workshop for street sweepers  organised by the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment in collaboration with Lagos State Waste Management Authority, LAWMA, explained that the issue of cleanliness is a continuous process that will always attract global discourse.

“The benefits of living in a healthy environment cannot be over emphasised. You have fresh air to breath in, free of bacteria or contaminants. It means reducing incidents of sicknesses, saving you money from constant visit to the hospital, enjoying longevity, protecting and preserving the earth for future generations and you ultimately achieve a priceless healthy, happier and quality life.

“When you dispose your wastes properly, you indirectly contribute to the beautification of your environment which can also be attained by planting of trees or flowers to ensure fresh air circulation. I need to emphasise here the need to jettison our  habit of drying of clothes on verandas and balconies along our high streets,” he said.

“The government has put in place equipment ‘and manpower to clean all our highways around the state, but we must be ready to change in attitudes and avoid acts of littering indiscriminately and other social vices that disrupt the visual aesthetics of our environment,” he added and advised the stakeholders to use the workshop as an avenue to  put in place various strategies that will be adopted at the end of this workshop.

The Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello stated that the annual workshop

has achieved its objective of building the sweepers’ capacity to achieve maximum productivity in the discharge of their duties. He pointed out that the state’s  passion for a cleaner environment was borne out of conviction that a cleaner environment is a product of healthy individuals, communities, state and nation. “Managing our environment is a responsibility that nature has bequeathed to us to nurture and in an effective and sustainable manner.

When. we beautify our environment through planting of flowers and trees, clear drainage, dispose your wastes properly, stop indiscriminate felling of trees, stop construction on drainage channels and alignments and desist from dumping refuse into the drainage and water bodies, we are helping ourselves and our future generations,” he said.

Earlier, the Managing Director of LAWMA, Mr. Ola Oresanya said the state government has invested substantial resources in both human and materials to re-emphasise its commitment to rid Lagos environment of wastes on the roads, bridges, drainage channels, canals, highways and in the communities.

“As part of our drive towards clean and sustainable environment, there have been different strategies and efforts that we have embarked upon in recent time. We have introduced mechanical sweeping at night in our presidential routes. Sweepers in all routes are also to ensure the removal of vegetal nuisances. All these efforts are to maintain the aesthetics of the environment for us to sustain the legacy all of you have laboured to achieve”, Oresanya said.