Speeches

Inauguration Of The Governing Board Of Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA)

Apr 14, 2008 - Today’s ceremony marking the inauguration of a 9-member Waste Management Board comprising eminent and experienced professionals including three chairmen of local government councils who had served and superintended over the affairs of our people at the local government level, each representing the three senatorial districts of Lagos State is a further affirmation of our determination and commitment to enhance effectiveness and efficiency of the Lagos State Waste Management Authority to discharge its arduous task of cleaning the city of Lagos of filthy garbage.

The cleanliness of any city, the lurchness of its green, its landscaping and indeed the freshness of its air are all features that will strike and welcome a first time visitor coming into that city. Lagos State being the major and busiest gateway into Nigeria through the land, its Sea-port and the Muritala International Airport is the first point of contact and it therefore deserves the best in terms of environmental sanitation and indeed beautification in order to sell it and create the necessary positive impression in the minds of tourists and would-be investors.

The influx of people from the rural areas to the urban centres and the resultant rapid growth rate in population has led to a sharp increase in the volume of waste that is generated on a daily basis in cities with burstling population such as Lagos.

This invariably has posed serious challenge overtime to successive administrations in Lagos State with each adopting different strategies with varying degrees of success. Since the inception of our administration, in furtherance of our electoral promise, we have embarked on various programmes aimed at creating a cleaner and healthier environment for Lagosians to live in.

We have commenced various programmes geared towards ensuring a sustainable environmental standard for Lagos State. These include the on-going beautification programme, road rehabilitation, cleaning and de-silting of the drains and de-flooding of areas prone to water flooding.

In accordance with law No. 5 of 28th March, 2007 establishing the Lagos State Waste Management Governing Board, our administration is giving effect to that law as passed by the Lagos State House of Assembly in order to lay the basic and organizational structure that will ensure the vibrancy of the Waste Management Authority.

I am therefore happy to warmly welcome you all to the inauguration of this strategic board. As provided in the said law of the Waste Management Board being inaugurated today, it would among other functions be responsible for:

(a) Cleaning street, removing, collecting and disposing of domestic, commercial and individual waste;
(b) Removing and disposing of abandoned and scrap vehicles;
(c) Removing and disposing of carcass of dead animals from public places;
(d) Preparing and updating from time to time the master plans for waste collection and disposal in the cities, towns, and villages in the State and control resultant waste system within the State;
(e) Making provision for waste management services to state agencies, local governments, industries, business entities and private persons within the State, by receiving waste at the Authority’s facilities pursuant to contract agreement between authority and such other party; and
(f) Issuing, reviewing and revoking licence of private waste collectors.

With this Board in place, we are taking a significant step forward and consolidating on the waste management policies we inherited from our predecessor in office, which we have reviewed as appropriate. This has really resulted in tremendous improvement on the state of our environment as a mega city. Lagos is relatively clean now, though it can be much cleaner; and we are currently working hard to achieve zero tolerance for indiscriminate dumping of refuse in the State.

As part of our efforts at improving upon the state of our environment we have embarked on a number of projects and strategies geared towards achieving effective and efficient waste management system.

These include:
(i) The procurement of additional 3 No. Tana Landfilled compactors for landfilled/ dumpsites;
(ii) Ongoing rehabilitation of three major landfill sites, at Olusosun, Soulos and Abule-Egba;
(iii) Ongoing evacuation of refuse backlog at illegal dumpsites located in various areas in the State;
(iv) Creation of more Transfer Loading Stations;
(v) Review of the operations of Private Sector Participation (PSP) in the waste collection; and
(vi) Intensive day/night sweeping.

All these and many other strategies have been put in place to ensure proper sanitary landfill practices consistent with international standard in environmental management. Apart from providing jobs through public private partnership, street surveying initiative, waste to compost, and many more, we have also procured one hundred (100) additional waste management trucks in our effort to ensure cleaner environment.

Let me emphasise that appointments of members to the new board of the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), was made after due consideration of the caliber of persons that should constitute the board, in view of the importance we attach to environment and waste management in the State. As a mega city, the volume of wastes generated in Lagos State on a daily basis is a reflection of its massive population and industrial presence. In managing these volumes of waste, it is essential that highly skilled professionals with cognate experience are appointed to effectively guide the affairs of the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA).

This among others informed our decision in appointing these distinguished men and women who henceforth will take charge of waste management in the State. The appointment of these men and women was based purely on merit, and in line with our policy on environmental management and control. We belief in their individual and collective abilities to deliver and ensure our streets are free of filths which could endanger our physical health condition.

With the caliber of persons appointed on this board, I have no doubt that waste management in Lagos State will assume a new dimension. The membership of this board shall henceforth include the following:
(i) DR. TAOFEEK OLADIRAN FOLAMI - CHAIRMAN
(ii) DR. OMOSULE SAMUEL ADELEYE - VICE CHAIRMAN
(iii) PRINCE MUPHY ADETORO - MEMBER
(iv) HON. ADEWALE ODUNLAMI - MEMBER
(v) BARR. (MRS.) DERIN DISU - MEMBER
(vi) DR. (MRS.) TITI ANIBABA - MEMBER
(vii) MR. OLA ORESANYA - MEMBER
(viii) MR. M . A ABASS - MEMBER
(ix) MR. KEMI SHOBOWALE - MEMBER

To whom much is given, much is expected. As you step on board to assume supervisory and managerial control over the affairs of the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), I want you to see this appointment as a call to service and a sensitive one at that.

Indeed, the challenges of waste management in a densely populated State as Lagos are enormous. You are therefore expected to bring your wealth of experience to bear on your new assignment.

You have no choice but to succeed, as your performance will be measured by the cleanliness or otherwise of our environment. I am therefore happy that you have among you, a medical practitioner who is conscious of the health implications of an unclean environment. With this on your mind, I have no doubt that the days of environmental filthiness are over.

Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, cleanliness is next to Godliness, the task of maintaining clean environment must not be left in the hands of LAWMA alone. It must be the conscious efforts and positive attitudes of each and every member of the society. The time has come when all hands must be on deck, especially as we approach the raining season. From experience, flooding occurs as a result of blocking of drainage channels through the indiscriminate dumping of wastes in unauthorized places, which eventually blocks the drainage facilities through which water could flow whenever it rains. In controlling this indiscipline attitude therefore, I urge all Lagosians to ensure that waste, including disposable water bottles, water sachets, milk tins, polythene bags and waste from local leaves favourably used in wrapping the popular ‘ofada rice’, moin-moin in our clubs and eatery outlets must be properly disposed off. Let us for once imbibe and maintain the culture of cleanliness for the good of all.

In the same vein, I wish to enjoin corporate organizations, especially those in the manufacturing sector whose by-products are responsible for some of the volume of waste and environmental pollution, to rise up to the challenge by support government’s efforts in ensuring clean environment.

It is therefore my pleasure, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, to inaugurate the Governing Board of the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), to the glory of God and for a cleaner and healthier living environment of our people.

Thank you all and God bless.

“Eko o ni baje o!”

Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN)
Governor of Lagos State