The
Lagos State Government has terminated the monthly environmental sanitation
exercise which before now held for three hours on the last Saturday of every
month.
The State Govt, in a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Steve Ayorinde, said the decision to cancel the monthly exercise followed a resolution arrived at Wednesday’s Executive Council meeting which approved the need for a robust review of the environmental laws and procedures in the state in order to meet the present day challenges and to promote a clean and healthy environment.
The Government noted that considering the present economic situation in the country, it was no longer appropriate to restrict movement of people for three hours in a mega city like Lagos at a time they should be pursuing commercial and entrepreneurial activities. According to government, in the last two decades, Lagos has grown exponentially into a mega city with the attendant huge environmental problems associated with managing a population of over twenty million people. But sadly, the environmental laws, policies and procedures being practiced in the State have not been able to match the phenomenal growth and the dream of a 24-hour economy, hence the need for the reform.
The Statement said:
“After a careful consideration, the State Executive Council has
therefore resolved that the present economic climate can no longer support the
continued lock down of a mega city like Lagos, when the citizens should be free
to engage in commercial and entrepreneurial activities that can promote
economic growth and prosperity. “Furthermore, Government will also accelerate
the introduction of fresh reforms through the passage of the new harmonized
environmental laws that will drive meaningful changes in areas of harmonized
billing, waste management, modern Landfill sites, noise pollution, introduction
of an Environmental Trust Fund and an Environmental Advisory Council. “The
Government wishes to reiterate its strong commitment to a clean and secure
environment for the benefit of its citizens, and will continue to provide the
necessary leadership to meet the environmental challenges of a mega city like
Lagos. Lagosians and visitors alike are therefore urged to embrace these
changes and imbibe a culture of voluntarily maintaining and preserving their
environment to create a beautiful and healthy city that we all can be proud
of.”
The statement added that the State Government would
henceforth be tougher in ensuring expeditious enforcement against
contraventions of its policies and regulations and as such, residents should
voluntarily comply with the necessary laws and support government in its bid to
have a clean and healthy environment.
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