Heavy Rainfall, High Cost Of Diesel Affecting Optimal Productivity – LAWMA MD, Odumboni

By Akinwale Kasali

The Managing Director of Lagos State Waste Management Authority, Ibrahim Odumboni has cleared the air over the complains of Lagosian on the alleged indiscriminate dumping of refuse on major roads in the State, which has affected vehicular movements in some parts of the State.

LAWMA is being criticized from different quarters over its perceived insensitivity and alleged lackadaisical approach to keeping the State clean.

Reacting to this allegations, Odumboni said that waste is recurrent in nature, as the Agency has to cater for the daily waste of over 20m people in the State.

He said contrary to the insinuation that Lagos is becoming one of the dirtiest States in the country, Lagos, is in fact the cleanest city in Nigeria with adequate sustainability measures in place to cater for the waste generated daily by over 20 million residents.

Odumboni added that it would be recalled that over the last few weeks in the media, LAWMA mentioned carting away backlogs as a result of heavy rain in July at its various landfills ( which are now all be rehabilitated) whilst still dealing with daily generation.

Stressing further, the LAWMA said that Private Sector Participation, PSPs, are working hard across the state despite rising diesel cost to ensure daily standards are maintained and any areas needing attention are reported by our monitors and tenements using our contact mediums.

Speaking further, he said as regards the offensive odour of indiscriminate dumping of refuse at Ipodo Market area of Ikeja Local Government, the capital of the State, is been carried out by the traders.

He said LAWMA has passed a notice for the market to be closed so that the incessant and indiscriminate dumping of waste in the area becomes history.

Alimosho, which is the most populous area in the State has high records of refuse littering the major roads from Meiran, Ajoke Ayo, Abule Egba, Aboru, AIT Road, Alagbado area of Alimosho are always dirty, which is a major concern.

Reacting to this, Odumboni said LAWMA is working tirelessly to make the State conducive for all, on a daily basis, a minimum of 0.69kg of waste is generated per person, which is quite an Herculean  for the PSPs in meeting the demand, putting into consideration the high cost of Diesel.

The LAWMA said in addressing this issue, Olusosun Dumpsite has been rehabilitated and is billed to be open from tomorrow morning, 4th August, 2022 and have capacity to tip 120 in an hour.

He added that the same rehabilitation is on going at Igando, Badagry, Epe and Ikorodu landfills to make the State a clean haven for all.