NaijaPositive.com

admin · Site Admin Joined: 25 May 2007 Posts: 5404

Lagos to Spend $66m to Fight Solid Waste

Thisday
4.21.2006

Determined to improve the environment and make it more habitable, Lagos State government has disclosed plans to spend $ 66million US dollars being part of grant from foreign agencies on solid waste management to enhance sustainable and friendly environment in the state.

Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello disclosed this yesterday at a press briefing he addressed to commemorate the 3rd Year of the second term of Governor Bola Tinubu?s administration in the state.

Bello said the state government has just been granted $200 million by the World Bank to implement its programmes on sustainable environment, adding that government intends to ?spend $66m on solid waste management, while the rest will be spent on provision of drainage systems, urban renewal and other projects?.

The commissioner said various foreign supports and assistance that his ministry enjoys was a mark of confidence in the environment programmes of the state government both by local and international communities.

In addition to the World Bank grant, the commissioner disclosed that his ministry has just signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with United States Trade Development Agency (USTDA) for Lagos State Municipal Services Maintenance Training Project.

As part of the foreign assistance programme, Mr. Bello revealed that 10 staff members of his ministry would undergo advanced training on waste treatment and recycling in Germany out of which 4 had just returned while 4 are still expected to go in September this year.

Describing the newly introduced PSP refuse management a great success, the commissioner recalled the sorry and unhygienic state of the highways and streets in the past, where it was a common site to see mountains of refuse dumped everywhere in at least 100m intervals which he said today has changed for better.

Mr. Bello attributed the success story of the ministry to team spirit, competent personnel and availability of formidable agency like LAWMA whose agency should be commended for a job well done. In order to effectively manage the waste generated by industries and corporate organisations, Mr. Bello disclosed that LAWMA has embarked on industrial waste management, which has equally put to rest problem of rapid industrial pollution in the State.

The Commissioner added that the State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the immediate implementation of a Buy Back initiative for pure water sachet, bottle water and plastic waste to check the menace of pure water sachets and other non-biodegradable waste to save drainage Channels and Canals from blockage.

For Government to consolidate on its present achievements in waste management, the Commissioner added that the State Government has taken some positive steps such as effective management of the 3 dumpsites Olushosun, Abule ? Egba and Solus.

Other measures are: Rehabilitation and continuous maintenance of the newly constructed access roads, Rehabilitation of the water Borehole System across the State, Construction of more Transfer Loading Stations (TLS) Construction and Rehabilitation of refuse houses and Public toilets to avoid defecation in the public as well as beautification of open spaces and greening of presidential routes.

He therefore called on Lagosians to join hands with the State Government in its crusade against filth by ensuring that every refuse they generate is properly disposed only by registered PSP operators and not cart pushers who end up dumping in canals, lagoon or road verges.