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The Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Babatunde Adejare has emphasised the importance of the environment, saying no nation can prosper in a distressed and degraded environment.

He stated this during the launch of Ikeja Clean-up Exercise and purpose-built tricycles for waste disposal by Ikeja Local Government on Thursday in furtherance of the policy of the State Government to rid the environment of all infractions and nuisances.

Adejare commended the efforts of the Administrator of Ikeja Local Government, Engineer Abiodun Taiwo, for subscribing to the vision of the administration of Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on the environment and urged other Administrators to emulate this feat.

The Environment Commissioner said that the achievement of functional and sustainable environment is everybody’s business. According to him, “when we put environment first, development endure because we cannot lay claim to economic prosperity in the face of environmental insecurities.”

He further urged the citizens to take good care of the environment because God never created the environment to be distressed or degraded; it is human efforts that have put it in the current worrisome state.

While restating the position of Government on sustainable environment, Adejare said that the Lagos State Government was also planning to invest in the use of tricycle for waste disposal, saying such efforts will help in no small measure to assist waste disposal in the State, as the tricycles will be able to navigate hard-to reach areas.

The Commissioner also stated that the Lagos State Government has also embarked on Clean Lagos exercise across the five divisions of the State, saying this initiative will help reduce environmental degradation.

The Commissioner urged Lagosians to join the state crusade to attain a cleaner, healthier, functional and sustainable environment, capable of promoting economic growth and well-being of the entire citizenry, saying, we do not have another planet, this earth is our earth, we must do everything within our capacities to ensure it is safe for us and posterity. “We are all products of the environment; we cannot exist without the environment. It is paramount that we give our best to protect it,” Adejare said.

photos-lauch-of-clean-up-excercise

Mukaila Sanusi
Head Public Affairs & Research
Ministry of the Environment

A tricycle Rider, Mr. David Gung, has admitted to inflicting bodily harm on the Zonal Commander of the Kick Against Indiscipline Brigade (KAI) in the Ikeja Command, Mr. Oluwafemi Samuel.

Gung, who spoke exclusively to this correspondent regretted that the expulsion of the association’s members from their former abode in the Radio Nigeria /Bond FM premises around Ladipo Oshodi forced them to relocate to the controversial ‘’illegal tricycle parking lot in the GRA Area where the KAI officer was injured’’.

The Tricyclist who also claimed to be the branch Financial Secretary of the Association in the Leventis-Sogunle-and Ikeja Army barracks Area, pleaded that he was ready to pay for the hospital bills of the injured KAI officer, adding that top officials of the Onigbongbo Local Council Development Area and the Ikeja GRA. Community Development Council had stepped in to resolve the matter.

The KAI Marshal General, Mr. Bola Jimoh, however said that the matter is under investigation by the Ikeja Divisional Police Station, under the Area F Command, adding that the suspect will be charged to court this week

Mr. Jimoh said that, upon the receipt of complaints by the residents of the GRA over the menace of crime and filth caused by the activities of the tricyclists and Okada Riders, the state government had been having a running battle in trying to dislodge the transporters, despite serial notices over their illegal activities in the area.

He said all the stakeholders in the area, including the residents, the LCDA and the association, will be summoned soon to the Ministry of the Environment in order to ensure that no such ugly incidents occur again in the area.

the-tricycle-operator-who-inflicted-bodily-injury-on-the-injured-kai-zonal-commander-for-gra-ikeja

Tunde Awobiyi
Director Public Affairs & Research,
September 26, 2016.

In line with the Zero tolerance policy of the state government to all violation of its Environmental laws, and the on-going ‘’Operation Clean Lagos’’ campaign, this month’s Monthly sanitation Exercise coming up on Saturday, September 24, 2016, will also involve advocacy visits to flood plain areas of the state.

In a statement announcing the sanitation exercise, the state commissioner for the Environment, Dr Babatunde Adejare, said that the renewed clean up campaign is to clamp down on all infractions like shanties, illegal overhanging structures, attachments to all tenements, obstruction to drainage channels on setbacks, right of way in violation of the prescribed distances from the highway or impeding free flow of traffic and storm water.

The Commissioner reiterated that, in response to the Annual Flooding Outlook and Rainfall Prediction released by the Nigeria Metrological Agency (NiMET) and Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) and the subsequent Seasonal Rainfall Prediction Press Conference by the Ministry of the Environment held on Thursday, August 18th, 2016, the State Government had appealed for support of all residents on the need to clear and clean up our premises, especially drainage channels and canals across the State, so as to avert any unforeseen outbreak of diseases and flooding.

The Monthly Environmental Sanitation Exercise will be observed state-wide between the hours of 7.00am-10.00am on Saturday24th September, 2016 with restrictions on human and vehicular movement across the State.

Dr. Adejare added that the State Government warned the citizenry to desist from acts that can lead to flooding, such asindiscriminate dumping of waste into drains and canals as this hinder the free-flow of storm water.

He implored Lagosians to come out en-mass on Saturday, warning that the period of environmental sanitation should not be used for any social engagement or sporting activities, but for serious cleaning and sanitation exercises.

He said that Lagos State Government has declared that the remaining Monthly Environmental Sanitation Exercise for Year 2016 will be dedicated to sanitation and clearing of the environment, drainage and canals across the State adding that all hands must be on deck to ensure a flood and filth-free Lagos.

According to him,“As we are all aware, Lagos is a coastal and aquatic state that has high water table levels and prone to flash-floods whenever it rains. We must therefore imbibe habits which will reduce to the barest minimum the incidence of flooding, which has so far been contained in the State”.
Allaying the fear of flooding, he stated that “flash flooding maybe experienced in the State, but would disappear within a short period of time”.

Dr. Adejare said that the target of the State is to sustain past record of flood abatement and so that the experience of flooding of the past can be avoided. He declared “this can only be achieved through effective collaboration of the people”.

He emphasized that the State Government will not rest on its oars in ensuring a flood-free Lagos and t0 also save guard lives and properties during and after rainy season.
He also warned residents who still patronize cart pushers to desist from the illegal acts, advising them to dispose their waste through LAWMA/PSP Operators.

“All of us will have to be vigilant to ensure that nobody dumps refuse in drainage channels. We must also avoid the idea of patronizing cart pushers because they end up dumping the refuse in drainage channels which in turn is pushed back to them by flood” he stated.

He therefore, warned Inter-state Bus and Luxurious Bus Operators, Transport Owners and Road Transport Workers to comply with the restriction order on human and vehicular movement between 7.00am-10.00am, stating that anyone caught violating this order will be apprehended and prosecuted, while passengers in such vehicles will also be prosecuted according to the state’s Environmental Sanitation Laws.

The Commissioner assured the people of Lagos of the commitment and determination of the State Government to attain a sustainable, safe and clean environment. He therefore urged Lagosians to support Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s vision of an Accommodating, Meritorious, Beautiful, Organized and Developed Environment for all.

Tunde Awobiyi
Ministry of the Environment.
21st September, 2016.

The Lagos State Ministry of the Environment, will tomorrow Friday, September 16, 2016. resume its on-going State-wide ‘’Operation Clean Lagos’’ to complement an earlier campaign initiated by the state Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode.

The Ministry said, in a statement issued from the office of the Commissioner, Dr Babatunde Adejare, that the state-wide operation which will last till the end of the year, is being co-ordinated by the Enforcement and Advocacy Department of the ministry, headed by Dr Abiodun Afolabi. Other agencies, including LAWMA, KAI, the Civil defence Corp and the security agencies are also on the team.

Dr Afolabi disclosed that ‘’the exercise, code-named ‘’ IBILE ‘’crusade, (acronym for the five divisions of the state’’) will restore the old glories of Lagos, adding that there would be simultaneous carting away of all demolished illegal structures by the LAWMA operatives.

He said that the gains of the exercise will be sustained by the Ministry’s Six Zonal Zero Tolerance offices and men of the KAI Brigade.

The Director Environmental Health Unit, Mr Femi Daini, who led last weekend’s operation had also assured that ‘’at the end of the exercise, the Governor expects that, all environmental infractions which ultimately negatively impacts on the health and safety of the people, as well as the efficiency of all the drainages in an aquatic state like Lagos would have been removed ‘’

Mr Daini said that the renewed exercise had become more urgent because of the unfavourable rainfall predictions by the meteorological agencies and the threat posed by some residents indiscriminately violating environmental laws through obstruction of the drainage channels with illegal structures and indiscriminate disposal of wastes.

He disclosed that, violations of the Zero tolerance policy of the present administration, environmental infractions; street trading, illegal shanties, extensions and overhanging attachments to shops have been obstructing traffic, walkways and road setbacks  despite serial notices  served on them.

According to him, the clean-up operation takes off simultaneously state-wide  from 10 a.m. till 4 pm in all the five divisions of the state in Ikeja, Badagry, Ikorodu, Lagos Island and Epe.

The Ikeja operation at the weekend was led by Mr Oladele Awoniyi, who covered Obafemi Awolowo through Kodeso and under-bridge areas. Some shops which were served abatement notices for a month were also sealed up.

In Badagry, Mr Ismail Oyeniran, led the operation which covered Joseph Dosu Way, Round About and Grammar School areas which were cleared of all environmental violations.

At Ikorodu, the  operation led by Mr Olugbenga Onabegun successfully rid Agric, Benson, Garage, Round About, Ojubode, Sagamu road axis of all illegal street trading on road setbacks, walkways, shanties and illegal extensions. At the Sabo area, illegal ram sellers were served notices to vacate the area immediately after the Sallah holidays.

Outer and Inner Marina were cleared of street traders on road setbacks, walk ways and drainage channels by a team led by Mr Olukemi Suleiman of the Lagos Island Division.

At Epe, areas covered by a team led by Mr A.E.Fasasi, include Oja Chief,T-Junction to the Beach and Terminal areas.

Speaking at the end of the exercise, Mr Daini said that because of the massive enlightenment and adequate notices which preceded the exercise, the security agencies, which included men of the Task Force, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corp and the KAI Brigade, made no arrests.

He noted that ‘’the immediate impact of the exercise was the improved flow of traffic, lower crime rate  and fewer reports of flash flooding in the state, despite reports of bigger havoc wrecked in other states that is not coastal and riverine like Lagos.’’

The Commissioner, urged all Lagosians to bag their waste and dispose them through the PSP operators, rather than through illegal cart pushers who dump their waste in the state’s wetlands and drainage channels, which may result in flooding and avoidable loss of lives and properties.

Tunde Awobiyi,

Director Public Affairs,

September 14, 2016.

Today 9th of September, 2016 is expected to be a  cloudy day, moderate/heavy  widely scattered rainfall is expected in the State.

Expected (Maximum) Rainfall Amount:15mm

Temperature (Maximum):  28° C

Temperature (Minimum):   22°C

Average Humidity:95%

Chance of Rainfall:70%

Wind speed: 8mph in the South-West direction.

Visibility will be 10km

( still good)

Today 2nd of September, 2016 is expected to be a mostly cloudy warm day, widely scattered moderate/heavy rainfall is expected in the State.

Expected (Maximum) Rainfall Amount: 9.5mm

Temperature (Maximum): 28° C
Temperature (Minimum): 23°C

Average Humidity:93%

Chance of Rainfall:70%

Wind speed: 6mph in the South-West direction.
Visibility will be 10km
( still good)

Today 1st of September, 2016 is expected to be a mostly cloudy day, widely scattered moderate/heavy rainfall is expected in the State.

Expected (Maximum) Rainfall Amount: 10.5mm
Temperature (Maximum): 28° C
Temperature (Minimum): 23°C
Average Humidity:92%

Chance of Rainfall:70%
Wind speed: 6mph in the South-West direction.Visibility will be 10km (still good)

Today 31st of August, 2016 is expected to be a mostly cloudy warm day, light/moderate rainfall is expected at different locations in the State.

Expected (Maximum) rainfall Amount: 4.5mm

Temperature (Maximum): 28° C
Temperature (Minimum): 23°C
Average Humidity:85%
Chance of Rainfall:55%
Wind speed: 6mph in the South-West direction.
Visibility will be 10km ( still good).

The Lagos State Government has directed officials of relevant agencies to ensure the immediate demolition of all illegal structures along drainage channels and alignments hampering the free flow of water in the state.

The Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Babatunde Adejare gave the directive during on-going tour of dark drainage spots in the state reported to have been impacted by the heavy downpour over the weekend.

The tour which took the Commissioner and officials of his Ministry and those of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) to Sogunle-Ikeja, Ajiran in Lekki, Salawe/Taike in Ikosi-Ketu among other areas in the state, revealed that most of the flooded areas had been abused by refuse dumps, illegal structures on low lying areas, flood plains and drainage channels.

While conveying the sympathy of the State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, to the affected communities, the Commissioner assured the victims of the downpour that the Governor had ordered immediate interventions, including re-dredging of all drainages and canals impacted by the last downpour to prevent any loss of lives and property.

Dr. Adejare, at each community visited appealed to residents located on the state’s low-lying areas and flood plains to relocate to higher grounds, adding that “weather reports predicted heavier rainfall in the weeks ahead.”
The Commissioner restated that Lagosians should desist from dumping refuse into the drainage channels because the channels are meant to drain water and not waste. “I am appealing to residents not to dump refuse into the drains. We must manage our waste and package them well so that they don’t find their ways into the canals. Our men have been working on the canals since weekend”

He stated that Lagos State had since last year embarked on massive clearing and dredging of primary and secondary channels /collectors in the State, expansion of existing drainage channels, in order to contain more storm water, lining of many earth channels, to ensure flow efficiency, full mobilisation of Resident Engineers/Drainage Maintenance Officers to oversee drainage matters in all the Local Government Areas/LCDA’s across the State and regular Monitoring and oversight of other environmental challenge.

Allaying the fears of flooding, he said that “Lagos as a coastal state is susceptible to flash floods anytime it rained with high intensity and residents of low line areas were especially prone to the back flow effect. We are likely to have flashfloods on our roads as normal occurrences all over the world. As long as the drains are clean, we should be assured that, in a matter of time, the flash floods will disappear”.

According to him, it is only when flood remains on the roads for days that a report on flooding can be filed. It must be noted that, anytime the Lagoon level rises, it will “lock up” our drainage channels and until it recedes, there will be no discharge. Occurrences like these also cause backflows, resorting to flooding. But, as soon as the Lagoon recedes, all the generated storm water will immediately discharge and our roads will be free.

“You will recall that the Nigeria Meteorological Agency and Nigeria Hydrological Service Agency, in their 2016 Annual Flood Outlook warned that this year’s flooding would be higher than that of 2015. The predictions indicated that coastal cities like Lagos will experience “flooding, sea-level rise and tidal surges.” The Agency named Ogun- Osun as one of the River Basins in the country which will experience flooding, urging the communities in the adjoining plains to keep safe distances’’, he added.

Adejare further advised Lagosians who reside along flood plains, coastal and low-lying wetland areas near major rivers e.g. Ikorodu, Owode, Iwaya, Makoko, Badia, Ijora, Isaalu, Pota, Sibiri etc, to always be on the alert, adding that when the need arises the government shall, as usual, notify such residents.

He added that low lying areas were vulnerable to flooding, and that they were natural courses of water which ought not to be converted to residential abodes.

Dr. Adejare said that most of the incidences of flooding experienced in the state were caused by human errors which could have been averted if there was attitudinal change and appropriate use of drainage channels.

The Commissioner listed some of the safety measures which should be adopted during heavy downpour to include:
• Avoid going out during the rains except only when it is absolutely necessary.
• Be conscious when driving and do not over speed. Ensure that your vehicles are in good condition.
• Avoid driving through flooded areas as it might be difficult to ascertain its depth.

According to him, ‘complaints can be forwarded to Mr. Olufemi Ajenifuja on the Ministry’s emergency lines -09095555580 and 09055555878”

Tunde Awobiyi
Ministry of the Environment

Today 30th of August, 2016 is expected to be a mostly cloudy day, light/moderate rainfall is expected in the State.

Expected (Maximum) rainfall Amount: 7mm

Temperature (Maximum): 28° C
Temperature (Minimum): 23°C
Average Humidity:87%
Chance of Rainfall:60%
Wind speed: 6mph in the South-West direction.
Visibility will be 10km ( still good)