LAWMA CANVASSES ATTITUDE CHANGE TO IMPROVE ENVIRONMENT
The Managing Director/CEO of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni, has canvassed radical attitude change among Lagos residents towards waste management and environmental practices.
He also charged health officers to take responsibility by rededicating themselves to duty in order to restore the old glory of the profession when they commanded both fear and respect among residents.
Odumboni made the call at a stakeholders’ meeting on Public Health Law 2015 and Environmental Management Protection Law 2017, organised by the Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria (AWAMN) in collaboration with LAWMA, at Ikeja with the theme: “Enhancing the Enforcement of the Environmental Laws of Lagos State”.
He maintained that a key determinant of the success of waste management operations in the State is enforcement, hence the need for various stakeholders to work in synergy with the law for seamless PSP operations and excellent results.
Odumboni said: “After what we do, even if we deploy the biggest resources, the biggest brains, the biggest minds into our day to day jobs, and we don’t have enforcement there would be a lot of room for disorderliness”,
“Now, our major challenge in this sector is the nonchalant attitude of our people, who are not ready to do what is right. We all know what the right thing is. It encompasses patronage of PSPs for proper disposal of waste, prompt payment of waste bills and separating waste at source among others”, he asserted.
Speaking earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (Office of Environmental Services), Dr. Omobolaji Gaji, reiterated that environmental infractions would now be prosecuted at designated Magistrate Courts, urging all stakeholders to work in synergy to transform the environment.
In his contribution, the Chairman, Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Environment Parastatals, Mr. Desmond Elliot, noted that the various environmental laws of the State have been collapsed into one document, adding that the Assembly would continue to strengthen the legal framework for issues of the environment.
The President of AWAMN, Mr. David Oriyomi, in his keynote address, thanked the State Government for dedicating many Magistrates Courts to the prosecution of environmental offences, promising that drawing on the government’s support, the PSP operators would work harder to deliver good services to Lagosians.
Also speaking, the External Solicitor to AWAMN, Barr. David Fadile, x-rayed both laws and noted that there were areas of contradictions, urging the State’s House of Assembly to consider urgent amendments to such sections to achieve the desired objectives.
On the discussion panel were the Chief Technical Officer of LAWMA, Dr. Olorunwa Tijani and the Head of Legal Unit of LAWMA, Barr. Rilwan Uthman, among others, while LAWMA’s Executive Director of Finance, Mr. Kunle Adebiyi, also attended the event.
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CAPTIONS:
PIX 1: (L-R) The Managing Director/CEO, LAWMA, Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni; President, Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria (AWAMN), David Oriyomi and Chairman, LAHA House Committee on Environment, Mr. Desmond Elliott, during the stakeholders’ meeting on Public Health Law 2015 & Environmental Management Protection Law 2017 held at Ikeja, Lagos.
PIX 2: The Managing Director/CEO, LAWMA, Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni, delivering a keynote address at the meeting on Public Health Law 2015 & Environmental Management Protection Law 2017 held at Ikeja, Lagos.
PIX 3: A cross-section of Environmental Health Services Officers at a one-day Stakeholders meeting on Public Health Law 2015 & Environmental Management Protection Law 2017 held at Ikeja, Lagos.
PIX 4: (L-R) Panelists: LAWMA’s CTO, Dr. Olohunwa Tijani; Director of Waste Management Division, Mr. Babajide Adeoye; Secretary, Body of Environmental Health Services in the State, Sanitarian Ajanaku Kolawole; LAWMA’s Head of Legal Department, Barr. Uthman Rilwan; AWAMN’s Consultant, Mr. Olalekan Owojori, and Mr. Olugbenga Adebola during the panel discussion at the stakeholders meeting on Public Health Law 2015 & Environmental Management Protection Law 2017 held at Ikeja, Lagos,
PIX 5: Permanent Secretary, Environment and Water Resources (Office of Environmental Services), Dr. Omobolaji Tajudeen Gaji, during his speech on ‘Enhancing the Enforcement of the Environmental Laws of Lagos State, at the stakeholders’ meeting on Public Health Law 2015 & Environmental Management Protection Law 2017 held in Ikeja, Lagos.
PIX 6: President, Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria (AWAMN), David Oriyomi addressing participants on the topic: ‘Enhancing the Enforcement of the Environmental Laws of Lagos State’, at the meeting on Public Health Law 2015 & Environmental Management Protection Law 2017 held in Ikeja, Lagos.
PIX 7: Chairman, LAHA House Committee on Environment, Mr. Desmond Elliott addressing participants on the topic: ‘Enhancing the Enforcement of the Environmental Laws of Lagos State’, at the meeting on Public Health Law 2015 & Environmental Management Protection Law 2017 held at Ikeja, Lagos.
