LASG Stresses the Importance of Good Sanitation Practices as Advocacy Campaign Reaches Bariga LCDA

LASG Stresses the Importance of Good Sanitation Practices as Advocacy Campaign Reaches Bariga LCDA

The Lagos State Government has reinforced the importance of maintaining good sanitation practices among residents to ensure a clean, flood-free, and sustainable environment across the state. This message was delivered on Sunday during the Weekly Community-Based Environmental Sanitation Advocacy campaign, held at Omobokun Street, Ekimogun Underbridge, Iyana Oworo, in the Bariga Local Council Development Area (LCDA).

Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, emphasized the need for residents to adopt daily sanitation practices. He explained that the advocacy campaign was initiated to promote these practices ahead of the formal commencement of the monthly Sanitation Exercise, which will be announced by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in the coming weeks.

"Our goal is to increase sensitization and advocacy efforts before the start of the monthly environmental sanitation," Wahab said. He noted that investigations revealed several houses in the area had improperly channeled their septic tanks into drainage systems, and some had constructed fences over drainage channels. Wahab warned that these houses would soon be sealed by the appropriate authorities.

He urged residents to support government efforts by regularly cleaning the drainages in front of their homes and refraining from illegal waste disposal. "It is crucial for everyone to take ownership of the infrastructure provided by the government," he added.

Addressing concerns about flooding in the area, Wahab said the government would reassess claims by community members that sandfilling at the Oworo end is contributing to the flooding issues in Ekimogun. He assured that the government is committed to finding a lasting solution to the problem.

Wahab also highlighted the effectiveness of the environmental advocacy campaign, noting that communities visited at the start of the program have sustained their cleanup efforts, resulting in cleaner and healthier environments.

The Chairman of Bariga LCDA, Honourable Kolade Alabi, echoed these sentiments, urging residents to stop littering roads and canals with waste. "We must bag our waste at home and patronize the PSP," he said. Alabi also announced that every house in Bariga would soon be required to have a waste bin, which will be made available by the government at a reasonable cost.

Additionally, the Managing Director of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) disclosed that Bariga LCDA has been identified as a site for a new recycling facility. The "Waste to Wealth" initiative is expected to reduce illegal waste disposal in the area. Residents were encouraged to collaborate with the government to keep Lagos free of garbage, with waste bins to be distributed to tenements in Bariga soon.

In response, Hon. Suliat Oguns, Senior Special Assistant on Environmental Health for Bariga Local Government, pledged the community's support, assuring that residents would ensure proper waste disposal and effective use of government-provided infrastructure.