By Innocent Anaba

Lagos—Stakeholders in Lagos, yesterday, at a colloquium to explore ways to achieve a healthier and cleaner environment as part of the 2015 Earth Day celebration, suggested ways to halt the deterioration of the environment and minimise the effects of oil spills, polluting factories and power plants, raw sewage and toxic dumps.

Speakers, including the Managing Director, Lagos Waste Management Agency, LAWMA, Mr Ola Oresanya; a German chemist and toxologist, Dr Beate Kummer; Country Director, Africare Nigeria Dr Orode Doherty; RISSN Director Dr. Olufemi Olarewaju; Dr. Ijeoma Nwagwu; Ms. Baerbel Freyer of the German Industry and Commerce in Nigeria; former Lagos Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Olasupo Shasore, SAN, noted the need for urgent attention to be paid to the environment by government.

Oresanya in his presentation, said that Lagos generates 11,000 metric tonnes of waste daily, adding that on the average, each resident produces 0.65kg of waste.

He added that Lagos was also the busiest in vehicular movement, noting that while the entire Nigeria has a vehicular density of 15 vehicles for every kilometre, Lagos alone has 280 vehicles for every kilometre.

On efforts being made to address waste disposal challenging facing the state, he said Lagos has partnered a technology company, Ericsson, to recycle electronic wastes generated in Lagos, such as those from the Computer Village.

Chairman of Lafarge WAPCO, Chief Olusegun Osunkeye, who chaired the event, urged the Federal Government to pay more attention to recycling systems, waste water treatment, solid waste management, especially in a populated city like Lagos.

“The challenge for elected officers come May 2015 is certainly astronomical, with limited capacity to achieve the most urgent developmental requirements. The local sustainability agenda therefore relies heavily on inter-agency resources, making public-private partnerships a major critical success factor for sustainable development.