Ansar-ud-Deen Society of Nigeria (ADSN), Lagos Branch, has asked the state government to provide waste bins in public places, and along the roads to ensure proper waste management and environmental hygiene in the state.
  
Chairman of ADSN, Lagos Branch, Alhaji Abdurahman Olabode Salaudeen, made the call when members of the foremost Islamic organisation took its ‘keep environment clean’ exercise to the street as part of its centenary celebration.
   
The exercise, which saw members coming out en masse with brooms and cleaning agents, began from the National Stadium to Jibowu and back to Teslim Balogun Stadium.
 
Speaking after the cleaning exercise, Alhaji Salaudeen said the cleaning exercise is a directive from the headquarters of the society, which will be carried out in all the 36 states of the federation.
 
He noted that the exercise was part of the society’s centenary programmes, which begins with special Jumah service.
 
“We are using this to thank Allah for preserving our lives to witness the centenary anniversary which is coming up in December. We plan to visit some dignitaries in the state, but our priority is to key into government policies.
 
“We observe that some places are dirty and we decided to support the government’s move on cleanliness,” he said.
 
He urged Lagosians to desist from dumping debris inside drainages as this led to environmental degradation and pollution.
 
He also noted that many drains are left uncovered, which might have been stolen and sold out by scavengers.
 
“If people continue to dump debris inside drainages, it will not allow free flow of water during the rainy season. We have been able to contribute our quotas by dislodging drainages, so that when it rains there will be a free flow of water and will give a clean, healthy environment.

“We are surprised to see some deep drainage left uncovered, but they were constructed with lids. This is dangerous; people who are walking in the night can easily fall inside these drainages and get injured. 
 
“It is our collective responsibility to monitor government properties. Whenever you see the scavengers removing the drainage covers, let’s endeavour to report them to security agents. It is a death trap,” he said.
   
ADSN state council’s missioner, Imam Zakariyah Muhammad Thann, urged the government to provide an enabling environment for citizens to survive in terms of employment, poverty alleviation programmes and others.
 
Member, state executive, Alhaji Abdul Ganiu Bolarinwa, said that from the Islamic perspective cleanliness is next to godliness.
 
He urged the state government to imbibe measures put in place in advanced countries to curb littering of the environment.
 
“In advanced countries, waste bins are provided in public places and in front of each building, So, they don’t litter everywhere. The state government should wake up to provide waste bins along the roads to avoid littering of public places. Although the state government is trying, it is not enough,” he said.