The Managing Director/ CEO of the Lagos Waste Management Authority, (LAWMA), Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni, has canvassed radical attitude change among Lagos residents, towards waste management and environmental practices.
He also charged health officers to take responsibility by
rededicating themselves to duty, to restore the old glory of that profession,
when they commanded both fear and respect among residents.
Odumboni made the observations at a one-day stakeholders'
meeting on Public Health Law 2015 and Environmental Management Protection Law
2017, organized by the Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria, ( AWAMN), in
collaboration with LAWMA, in Ikeja.
He maintained that a key determinant of the success of waste management operations in the state was enforcement, hence the need for synergy among the various stakeholders, to work with a law that would enable seamless PSP operations for excellent results.
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| L-R: The Managing Director/CEO, LAWMA, Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni; President, Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria (AWAMN), David Oriyomi; and Chairman, LAHA House Committee on Environment, Hon. Desmond Elliott, during a One-day Stakeholders meeting on Public Health Law 2015 & Environmental Management Protection Law 2017, with the theme: 'Enhancing the Enforcement of the Environmental Laws of Lagos State, held at Ikeja, Lagos, on Wednesday, 20th April 2022. |
Odumboni said: "After what we do, even if we deploy the
biggest resources, the biggest brain, the biggest mind into our day to day job, and we don't have
enforcement, definitely, there would be a lot of room for disorderliness",
" Now, our major challenge in this sector is the
nonchalant attitude of our people, who are not ready to do what is right. We all
know what the right thing is. It encompasses patronage of PSPs for proper
disposal of waste, prompt payment of waste bills and separating waste at
source, among others" , he stressed.
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| A cross-section of Environmental Health Services Officers, a One-day Stakeholders Meeting on Public Health Law 2015 & Environmental Management Protection Law 2017, with the theme: 'Enhancing the Enforcement of the Environmental Laws of Lagos State, held at Ikeja, Lagos, on Wednesday, 20th April 2022. |
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| L-R: Panelists: LAWMA's CTO., Dr. Olohunwa Tijani; Director, Waste Management Division, Mr. Babajide Adeoye; Secretary, the body of Environmental Health Services in the State, Sanitarian Ajanaku Kolawole; LAWMA's Head of Legal dept., Barr. Uthman Rilwan; AWAMN's Consultant, Mr. Olalekan Owojori; and Mr. Olugbenga Adebola, during the panel discussion at a One-day Stakeholders Meeting on Public Health Law 2015 & Environmental Management Protection Law 2017, with the theme: 'Enhancing the Enforcement of the Environmental Laws of Lagos State, held at Ikeja, Lagos, on Wednesday, 20th April 2022. |
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| Permanent Secretary, Environment and Water Resources (Office of Environmental Services), Dr. Omobolaji Tajudeen Gaji giving short remarks on the topic: 'Enhancing the Enforcement of the Environmental Laws of Lagos State, during a One-day Stakeholders Meeting on Public Health Law 2015 & Environmental Management Protection Law 2017, jointly organized by LAWMA and AWAMN, at Ikeja, Lagos, on Wednesday, 20th April 2022. |
Odumboni further stressed, that all government agencies and officials saddled with enforcing the law, must work together to achieve a common purpose.
Speaking earlier, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Dr Omobolaji Gaji, reiterated that environmental infractions would now be prosecuted at designated magistrate's courts, urging all stakeholders to work in synergy to transform the environment.
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| President, Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria (AWAMN), David Oriyomi addressing participants on the topic: 'Enhancing the Enforcement of the Environmental Laws of Lagos State, during a One-day Stakeholders Meeting on Public Health Law 2015 & Environmental Management Protection Law 2017, jointly organized by LAWMA and AWAMN, at Ikeja, Lagos, on Wednesday, 20th April, 2022. |
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| Chairman, LAHA House Committee on Environment, Hon. Desmond Elliott addressing participants on the topic: 'Enhancing the Enforcement of the Environmental Laws of Lagos State, during a One-day Stakeholders Meeting on Public Health Law 2015 & Environmental Management Protection Law 2017, jointly organized by LAWMA and AWAMN, at Ikeja, Lagos, on Wednesday, 20th April 2022. |
In his contribution, the chairman of Lagos State House of
Assembly Committee on Environment, Hon. Desmond Eliot noted that the various
environmental laws of the state have been collapsed into one document, adding
that the Assembly would continue to strengthen the legal framework for issues
of the environment.
The President of AWAMN, Mr. David Oriyomi, in his keynote
address, thanked the state government for dedicating many magistrates' courts
to the prosecution of environmental offences, promising that drawing on the
government's support, the PSP operators would work harder to deliver good
service to Lagosians.
The external solicitor to AWAMN, Barr. David Fadile, who
x-rayed both laws, noted that there were areas of contradictions, urging the
State's House of Assembly, to consider urgent amendments to such sections, to
achieve desired objectives.
On the panel discussion, were the Chief Technical Officer of
LAWMA, Dr. Olorunwa Tijani, and the Head of the Legal Unit of LAWMA, Barr. Rilwan
Uthman, among others; with
LAWMA's Executive Director of Finance, Mr. Kunle Adebiyi, was also in
attendance at the event.
Folashade Kadiri
Director, Public Affairs
LAWMA
20th of April, 2022
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