The Acting Chairman, Agege Local Government, Alhaji AbdulGaniyu Vinod Obasa today held Environmental all Stakeholders Meeting to tackle environmental menace in Agege.
Hon. Abdul-Ganiyu Vinod Obasa, in his remarks, declared his ambition to make Agege the cleanest Local Government in Nigeria, emphasizing the need for residents to ensure a clean and free environment to guarantee a safe and healthy Agege for all. In his words:
"I want Agege to be one of the cleanest Local Government Councils in Nigeria. Though it is a herculean task to achieve, we will do all it takes to make it workable. We discovered that our street sweeper personnel are not enough. In the coming days, we will be recruiting more numbers to the available ones to have a dirty-free environment. With them and each household having their bins and taking charge, our streets and inner roads will be clean and safe for healthy living.
"If Kigali, a city in Rwanda, can be the cleanest city in Africa, Agege will replicate such practices and collaborative solutions to improve environmental sanitation and waste management in Agege.
"Our short, mid, and long-term goals and plans are to engage stakeholders in the decision-making process, collaborate with local organizations, businesses, groups, and hold all stakeholders accountable for their roles and responsibilities in environmental sanitation and waste management efforts. An environmental taskforce will be set up, and we will ensure our environmental personnel are guided by security operatives when going out for their operations to curb them from public harassment and attacks."
Head of the Environmental Department, Sanitarian Odu Olufemi, in his welcome address, expressed his displeasure at the bad state of the environment in Agege and how residents attract and treat Environmental Personnel of the Council unfriendly. He also pointed out that the meeting was to discuss the challenges the PSP is facing and proffer adequate solutions and practices that will help in having a clean and safe environment.
The Council Manager (CM), Mr. Osikoya Sogo, expressed gratitude to the Ag. Chairman, Hon. Abdul-Ganiyu Vinod Obasa, for the passionate commitment he had shown since he assumed office. He then talked about the need for everyone involved to work hand in hand with the administration in town to solve the problem of indecent disposal of refuse and sewage in unwanted and open areas.
The PSP representatives further talked about their mode of operation and the challenges they are facing in discharging their duties. The LAWMA representative, on the other hand, also talked about the issues affecting the environment, while community members reacted to the position of the PSP operators.
The CDC Chairman, Agege, Alhaji Omodele Moruff, applauded the initiative of holding the stakeholders meeting and urged the Ag. Chairman to note that whatever the government wants is what the communities will do. The Leader of the Agege Legislative Council, Hon. Adesina Haruna, also implored on the steps that will be taken to enforce and make people comply with environmental laws.
Present at the Stakeholders Meeting were Members of the Agege Legislative Council, Management staff, Environmental Officers, Community members, Safety Corps, Religious Bodies, PSP and LAWMA representatives, Representatives of Youth Groups and Ethnic Groups, amongst others.
By: Jebba , Agege Local Government
