The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has appealed to residents in the State to maintain a cleaner and livable environment, as the government puts measures in place to curtail environmental degradation and the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic.
The appeal was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Managing Director/CEO of LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, to commemorate the Year 2020 World Earth Day – a day set aside to show support for environmental protection across the globe.
“Today is indeed a special day as we celebrate this year’s World Earth Day and create awareness on the need for cleanliness, environmental sustainability and protection in the face of the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic”, he said.
Dr. Gbadegesin pointed out the need for attitudinal change among residents as it relates to the environment, adding that negative environmental practices like waste burning and indiscriminate refuse disposal pose a serious hazard, not just to the environment, but also to the people that live in the vicinity.
According to him, “There is no gainsaying that human activities have had dire consequences on the environment. Burning of fossil fuel, deforestation and illegal dumping of waste are major contributors of methane gas, a greenhouse gas 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide, which has the cumulative effect of triggering global warming”.
The LAWMA boss, therefore, appealed to residents to support efforts of the Authority in ensuring that every part of the metropolis is kept clean during and after the lockdown period, disclosing that PSP operators have been mandated to provide effective services to all tenements in the State.
“We won’t rest on our oars until every part of Lagos is properly sanitised. We have provided our operational team with Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), to boost efforts to rid the State of black spots. So l implore all residents to bag their wastes for subsequent evacuation by their assigned PSP operators”, he stated.
Gbadegesin also urged all residents to call LAWMA toll-free line 07080601020 for any inquiries and PSP related issues.
HA/TMS/OS
