Lagos govt intensifies sanitation enforcement, seals defaulting houses

The Lagos State Government on Saturday intensified enforcement of environmental sanitation regulations in Kosofe Local Government Area of the state, sealing some residential buildings for violating sanitation laws.

Some houses on Olorunfunmi Street in Oworonshoki were sealed during the June monthly environmental sanitation exercise for failing to comply with sanitation regulations.

Some affected residents attributed the action to irregular waste collection by Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators, alleging that refuse had remained uncollected in the area for some time.

Responding, the Lagos State Head of Service, Olabode Agoro, said the government would investigate the allegations before drawing conclusions.

Agoro said: “I cannot call anybody out because there could be a variety of reasons why the refuse has not been evacuated. Some residents may not have paid for the service, while there could be other reasons.

“We need to investigate properly to determine what is responsible. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of the Environment, is here with me and we will look into the matter.”

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He urged residents to take greater responsibility for keeping their surroundings clean, stressing that the government alone cannot achieve a cleaner Lagos.

Agoro said he observed indiscriminate disposal of sachet water nylons and other wastes on roads during the monitoring exercise.

Agoro added: “If you visit developed countries, people don’t throw refuse indiscriminately. The government cannot do it alone; we are all government.

“When I eat anything, I don’t throw the waste out of my car. I keep it until I get to where I can dispose of it properly. We all need to be more conscious of our environment and take responsibility.”