Environmental health directorate embark on massive sanitary premises inspection, abatement of environmental infractions

By Idris Olukoya Epe(Lagos State), Oct. 4, 2023(NAN) Environmental Health Officers of Lagos State, have commenced massive sanitary inspection and abatement of environmental infractions to ensure a safer and cleaner Lagos. Sanitarian Akeem Adewale Olaewe, Deputy Director, Environmental Health Services, Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources Office of Environmental Services, disclosed during a sanitary inspection tour of Freedom Way and Admiralty Way, Lekki, Eti-Osa LGA, on Tuesday. Olaewe said that the development was in line with the Lagos state cleaner environment initiative of Mr Governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwoolu stimulated by Mr Tokunbo Wahab, Honourable Commissioner of Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources. He added that the abatement of environmental infractions in the area includes; littering of the environment, silted and blocked drainage channels. Others as; the construction of concrete on setback drainage alignment leading to the blockage of storm water inlet holes into the public drain among others. Meanwhile, earlier in the day, the Commissioner, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, and his team alongside the executive of the Lekki Residents Association went around some of the drainage channels and dark spots for indiscriminate refuse dumping. The team discovered many contravention in terms of construction on drainage alignments as well as sealing up of setbacks for strains with concrete by the property owners. The Commissioner said that the ultimate goal of clearing and dredging all drainage channels is to allow easy passage of rainstorm water which explains why the Government has made continuous dredging of major drainage channels and canals spread across the state a priority. He stated that directives have been given for contravention notices to be served on some of the commercial property owners on Admiralty Way for contravening the state environmental laws He said the poor state of the drainage system management by these commercial buildings had seriously affected the road networks in the Lekki axis despite the continuous rehabilitation of the roads by the State Government. He reiterated the State Government has zero tolerance for environmental abuse especially drainage blockage, using a classic example of the Durosimi Etti channel which is littered with waste and parked shuttle buses, asking that the space should be beautified. He also dislodged an illegal mechanic workshop on a setback at Admiralty Way opposite Parktonian Hotels, saying if they attempted to return all the vehicles would be towed away. The Special Adviser on Environment, Mr Olakunle Rotimi - Akodu appealed to the people to desist from dumping refuse into the drains, adding that clogging of the drains has been compounded by the activities of residents who have turned many major drainage channels into refuse dumps including tertiary drains across the state. He also reiterated the warning issued to all property owners who have built on setbacks of drainage channels or drainage alignments to remove all such structures as they constitute major impediments to the free flow of water into the various drainage channels. The Managing Director of LAWMA, Dr Muyiwa Gbedegesin said that the organisation is now better positioned to ensure a cleaner Lagos at all times.

The locations visited include Durosimi-Etti, Kayode Animashawun/Olubunmi Owa amongst others all on Admiralty Road. In his response, the Chairman of the Environment sector, Lekki Residents Association, Mrs Tari Taylour commended the government for the determination to continually make Lagos livable for all. He advised all Lekki residents to always dispose of their waste properly by patronizing the PSP and always ensure they clean their frontage drainages as continuous environmental sustainability would be beneficial to all residents in the long run. (NAN). (www.nannews.ng). SIO ====