We Have A Master Plan To Give Agege Facelift – Dr. Adejare, Commissioner for Environment

 Recently, AgegePulse had an exclusive interview with the Lagos State Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Samuel Adejare at his Agege residence. Below is an excerpt from the interview: 

“Growing up in the heart of Ebute Meta was quite interesting under the tutelage of my God sent guardian/mother, Chief Mrs. Iyabode Oduwole of blessed memory. She was the architect of everything you see in me today. My only regret in life is the fact that she is not alive today to witness how her mentorship regime served as the solid foundation for my success in life (Dr. Adejare weeps). Our mandate from Mr. Governor is to ensure a clean and flood free environment that is conducive for all. Part of it is to plant 10million trees by 2020. We’ve grown about 7million trees as at today, we are sure of surpassing our target by 2020. We urge every individual to imbibe the culture of planting a tree to mark important days (birthday, wedding, anniversary, e.t.c) in their lives. This will aid our resolve for a greener environment.

The monthly Environmental Sanitation was cancelled because we were convinced that shutting down Lagos for 3hrs of every last Saturday of the month is a disgrace to us, cleaning our environment should be our way of life. We will embark on viral sensitization and education of our people on the need to be mindful of the importance of a clean environment. Our blueprint for Lagos environment will cater for the nooks and crannies of the state.

Talking about Agege, Hon. Adejare said; “We have a master plan for Agege and Governor Ambode is very interested in it. In terms of flood in Agege and Orile Agege, there are plans to start a massive drainage system in areas like Akilo, Alaagba, Pero, Papa, Agbotikuyo, Dopemu amongst others to address flooding and environmental issues in the area. Before the end of this administration, the railway area of Agege will also witness massive facelift. They are all in our plans and our working Governor has keyed into it.”

On why he dumped Medicine for Politics, he said; “A typical doctor is a politician, the study of Medicine is to make people comfortable and Politics is to take good governance to the people with quality representation while ensuring people live comfortably. Medicine and Politics are interwoven in terms of end result. As a medical student, I represented the department all through my six years in school.”

Watch out for the full interview in the next edition of Agegepulse Magazine.

LASG dedicates October sanitation to vector control

The Lagos State Government has declared that the State’s Monthly Environmental Sanitation Exercise for the month of October will be dedicated to vector control and observed, as usual, between the hours of 7:00am to 10.00am on Saturday, 29th October, 2016.

The Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Babatunde Adejare, who disclosed this recently, explained that the move towards vector control in the State had commenced with automated fumigation of all markets in Lagos, starting with Obalende Market, is aimed at eliminating rodents and preventing the disease they might cause.

He urged residents to turn out en-masse and participate actively in the forthcoming sanitation exercise by cleaning their homes and drains, warning that the period of environmental sanitation should not be used for any social engagement or sporting activities, but for cleaning and sanitation exercises.

Dr. Adejare noted that apart from this State organized event, daily cleaning of our environment should be an everyday affair, because environment is the superstructure on which everything rests. He appealed to residents to desist from acts that could lead to flooding, such as indiscriminate dumping of waste into drains and canals and other acts that might result in environmental degradation.

According to him, “The State Government is committed to achieving a flood-free Lagos. Citizens on their part will do well to ensure that canals and channels in their areas are cleaned at all times, in addition to the regular de-silting, dredging and maintenance of drainage channels and canals by government.”

“As we are all aware, Lagos is a coastal State that has high water table and prone to flash-floods, we must therefore imbibe positive attitude which will reduce to the barest minimum the incidence of flooding, which has so far been contained in the State” he added.

The Commissioner warned residents who still patronize cart pushers to desist from the illegal act as the coverage of the PSP Operators has been widened to effectively accommodate more residents of the State.

He reminded Lagosians that government’s zero tolerance programme to environmental infractions and nuisances was still very much on course and as such the people should refrain from degrading the environment in any form to avoid the negative consequences of environmental pollution and the full weight of the compliance measures of government.

In order to attain total compliance of the restriction order and ensure full participation of Lagosians in the sanitation exercise, Adejare implored interstate Bus Operators, the State Transport Owners and Road Transport Workers Association to comply with the restriction of vehicular movement order between 7.00am-10.00am as any vehicle caught violating this order will be dealt with appropriately, while passengers in such vehicles will also be prosecuted according to the State Environmental Sanitation Laws.

He further assured that Law Enforcement Agencies including the Nigeria Police and officials from LAWMA, LASTMA and KAI have been fully mobilized to enforce the restriction.