The
Lagos State Government has declared that the July 2016 Environmental Sanitation
Exercise will hold on Saturday 30th July and be dedicated to
cleaning of drains and canals across the state, to allow for free flow of water
as the rainy season nears its peak.
The
Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Babatunde Adejare, in a press statement,
stated that the Sanitation Exercise will be observed State-wide between the
usual hours of 7:00am-10.00am during which, as usual, there will be restriction
of human and vehicular movement across the State.
Dr.
Adejare implored Lagosians to come out en-masse to clean and clear canals in
their neighbourhood so as to continually prevent flooding in the State and
warned that the period of environmental sanitation should not be used for any
social engagement or sporting activity.
According
to him, “As we are all aware, Lagos is a coastal City that has high water table
levels and is prone to flash-floods whenever it rains. We must therefore imbibe
habits which will reduce to the barest minimum the incidence of flooding in the
State”.
Speaking
further, Adejare said “the target of the State this year is to sustain past
records of flood abatement”, adding that, “this can only be achieved through
effective collaboration of the people.”
The
Commissioner advised residents of the State to desist from dumping waste
arbitrarily into drainage channels and canals in order to maintain a flood-free
Lagos. He also warned residents who still patronize cart pushers to desist from
the illegal act and urged that disposal of waste must be through LAWMA/PSP
Operators.
Adejare
affirmed that relevant law enforcement agencies and officials from LAWMA,
LASTMA and KAI have been fully mobilized to enforce the restriction of movement
order.
All
private and public transport operators are expected to comply with the
restriction order between 7.00am-10.00am and anyone caught violating this order
will be apprehended and prosecuted in line with the State’s Environmental
Sanitation Laws, he said.
The
Commissioner assured residents of the commitment and determination of the State
Government to attain a sustainable, safe and clean environment and urged
Lagosians to support Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s vision of a cleaner and
healthier Lagos by abstaining from bad environmental practices
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