Lagos State government has dislodged scavengers at Olusosun Landfill, Ojota, citing health and safety concerns from their illegal activities, including burning of tyres, which could trigger a major fire incident.
Olusosun landfill, is one of the largest in the state, and copes with the challenge of scavengers rummaging the site for recyclable items, posing significant danger to people and environmental health.
Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, said the dislodgement operation was mainly for the well-being of people living close to the landfill.
According to him, “It is our foremost responsibility to ensure the well-being of residents of Lagos. The activities of scavengers at the Olusosun Landfill have raised concerns for the health and safety of the scavengers themselves and the larger community. From time to time, we must take steps to protect the people and environment. Their activities could trigger an inferno on the site and this we need to prevent.”
Wahab further explained that the state government was committed to enhancing the overall waste management system in the state, ensuring it aligned with the global best practice of safety, environmental sustainability and public health, adding that similar action would be replicated in other landfills in due course.
On his part, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the state’s Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, said the Authority would continue to work closely with communities, stakeholders and experts to implement salutary measures that safeguard the environment and well-being of residents.
He noted that shanties erected on the site would be dismantled, as scavengers would no longer be allowed to live there, but would be duly profiled and allowed to operate only during official work hours of between 8:00a.m. and 5:00p.m.
MEANWHILE, 26 persons have been sentenced to community service by a Magistrate’s court sitting in the Ikoyi area of the state for engaging in reckless waste disposal.
Magistrate Mcdavies Amore of the Environmental Special Offences Court of Lagos State District, also imposed a N30,000 fine per person or an option of community service on them.
The environmental offenders were arrested by the enforcement team of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) in collaboration with the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC), at different locations in the state, for disposing of their refuse in unauthorised places, between the hours of 9:30p.m. and 7:00a.m.
Commenting on the judgment, LAWMA boss, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, said the ongoing joint enforcement action by the Authority had been intensified, in line with the zero tolerance policy of the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
