Press Releases

The Lagos State Government has arrested a middle aged woman, Afusat Tiamiyu, who was caught emptying refuse bins into the drainage at Iyana-Odo junction, Alagbaa, Agege, during the last week-end rain.

A video of the woman when pouring six bags of refuse into the drainage during the rain was recorded by a concerned citizen and forwarded to the Ministry of the Environment.

While parading the woman on Monday, the Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Babatunde Adejare, said that the perpetrator would be charged to court and be prosecuted according to the Environmental Laws of the State.

The Commissioner used the occasion to remind Lagosians that the State Government would continue to maintain zero tolerance to all forms of environmental abuse.

Adejare warned Lagosians to desist from indiscriminate dumping of refuse and praised the whistleblower for the concern for the environment, stressing that it was by being vanguard of the environment that the people can assist the government in policing the environment and realizing the sustainable environment vision of the Akinwunmi Ambode administration in the State.

He assured Lagosians that the full commencement of the Cleaner Lagos Initiative would address all waste challenges being currently faced in the State.

Jide Atansuyi

Chief Public Affairs Officer

Ministry of the Environment

28^th August, 2017

Lagos State Government has urged Lekki residents to be observant and protective of their immediate environment and not leave their neighborhood at the mercy of miscreants who are fond of degrading the environment.

This call was made by the Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Babatunde Adejare during his inspection tour of Lekki Phase 1 over the weekend.

The commissioner who frowned at the alarming rate at which people who have no business in the estate were allowed to deface the estate, urged residents to promptly report illegal developments as they constitute grave dangers to the environment.

He stress that the situation in which miscreants were allowed to erect shanties in the prime estate, dump refuse indiscriminately, block drainage channels and constitute nuisance to the neighborhood was

unacceptable, stressing that the government would immediately enforce environmental laws to return normalcy.

He also said that the State Government would not rest on its oars in ensuring that Lagosians inculcate the habit of regular maintenance of their immediate environment as doing so is our collective responsibility.

The Commissioner reiterated the State Government’s zero tolerance for environmental abuse, especially indiscriminate refuse dumping, drainage blockage, construction on waterways and drainage alignments, as well as building of shanties etc.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Lekki Residents Association Prof. Olumide Ajose thanked the Lagos State Government for its support in ensuring that the Lekki Estate Environment remained cleaner and healthier.

He promised that his association would spur members of his community to cooperate with the State Government to stop all actions that were capable of degrading the Environment, while praising the new waste management initiative of the State Government which he described as a major turning point in solid waste management in the State.

Oluwaseyi Ogundimu

Principal Executive Officer (Public Affairs)

Ministry of the Environment

21^st August, 2017

In its continued efforts of seeking understanding and acceptance of Lagosians on the Cleaner Lagos Initiative (CLI) as an innovation in solid waste management, the Lagos State Government has taken the advocacy and enlightenment programme to Ikorodu Division of the State.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of the Environment, Mr. Abiodun Bamgboye, said that the need to create ample awareness and enlightenment about the Cleaner Lagos Initiative as a new direction in solid waste management was the reason for the stakeholders meeting at Ikorodu division.

His words: “It has become imperative to come to you the citizens who are the direct beneficiaries of the new initiative and to let you know what it is all about and the roles you are to perform in the process.’’

He disclosed that the Lagos State Government, under the leadership of Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, was committed to ensuring that Lagosians live in a healthy, cleaner and peaceful environment.

While explaining the benefits of the CLI to Lagosians, Bamgboye said that the initiative would create 27,500 new jobs by engaging the unemployed youth and the existing street sweepers through the Community Sanitation Workers (CSW) initiative to manually sweep all the inner streets in the 377 wards of the State, in addition to the mechanical sweeping of the highways.

He further advised Lagosians to support the initiative and collaborate with Lagos State Government by ensuring that they desist from indiscriminate dumping of refuse in unauthorized places and by maintaining regular surveillance of their environment.

He maintained that the initiative “would not only enhance the aesthetics of the State and alleviate poverty but would further improve the economy of Lagos State by bringing about a viable sub-sector of the economy.”

He urged market men and women, Community Development Associations (CDAs), Community Development Committee (CDCs) and artisans who were the participants at the meeting to embrace the CLI wholeheartedly and to help spread the gospel of the initiative to all and sundry.

Olajide Atansuyi

Chief Public Affairs Officer

Minisrty of the Environment

21^st August, 2017.

As the stage is now set for the grand launch of the Cleaner Lagos Initiative, The Lagos State Government has begun to seek the buy-in and understanding of the citizens on the new efforts in solid waste management through advocacy and enlightenment.

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The Lagos State Government has lined up series of advocacy programme to be conducted across the five divisions of the State to herald the commencement of full operations.

Speaking at the Stakeholders Engagement on Friday at NECA Hall, CBD, Alausa with members of the Community Development Associations (CDAs), market men and women from 23 Local Governments/Local Council Development Areas of the State, the Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Babatunde Adejare said that the Cleaner Lagos Initiative remained the bedrock upon which cleaner, healthier and livable environment rest.

Adejare disclosed that government decided to invite the participants for the purpose of educating and enlighten them on what the new initiative in solid waste management entailed

His words: “We decided to get closer to our people who are the direct beneficiaries of the new initiative through advocacy and enlightenment programmes so as to let you know what the CLI is and to urge you to embrace it with the whole of your heart.”

He maintained that the Lagos State Government was resolute in its commitment to give to Lagosians a sustainable and functional environment which they would be proud of.

“The Akinwunmi Ambode Administration would leave no stone unturned to achieve a clean, healthy and livable state, predicated on the Cleaner Lagos Initiative which is a comprehensive reform of the Solid Waste Management Sector in the State.”

On the benefits of the CLI, Adejare disclose that the initiative would create 27,500 new jobs by engaging the unemployed youth and the existing street sweepers and transforming them to Community Sanitation Workers (CSW) to carry out manual sweeping in all the inner streets in the 377 wards of the State.

The Commissioner urged participants to cooperate with the government by desisting from indiscriminate dumping of refuse in unauthorized places and by being the vanguard of their environment because they were the ultimate beneficiaries of the new system, which would not only alleviate poverty and enhance the aesthetics of the State but would also further deepen the economy of Lagos State by evolving a new viable sub-sector of the economy.

Participants took time to ask sundry questions about the Cleaner Lagos Initiative

The stakeholders advocacy programmes continues in remainig four divisions of the State in the Month of August.

As the stage is set for the grand launch of the Cleaner Lagos Initiative, The Lagos State Government has begun to seek the buy-in and understanding of the citizens on the new efforts in solid waste management through advocacy and enlightenment.

Speaking at a Stakeholders meeting on Friday at NECA Hall, CBD, Alausa, the Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Babatunde Adejare said that the Cleaner Lagos Initiative remained the bedrock upon which cleaner, healthier and livable environment rested.

Adejare disclosed that government had started engaging Lagosians to educate and enlighten them on the new initiative in solid waste management.

His words: “We decided to get closer to our people who are the direct beneficiaries of the new initiative through advocacy and enlightenment programmes so as to let you know what the CLI is and to urge you to embrace it wholeheartedly”

He maintained that the Lagos State Government was resolute in its commitment to give to Lagosians a sustainable and functional environment which they would be proud of.

“The Akinwunmi Ambode Administration would leave no stone unturned to achieve a clean, healthy and livable state, predicated on the Cleaner Lagos Initiative which is a comprehensive reform of the Solid Waste Management Sector in the State”, he said.

On the benefits of the CLI, Adejare disclosed that the initiative would create 27,500 new jobs by engaging the unemployed youth and the existing street sweepers through the Community Sanitation Workers (CSW) initiative to carry out manual sweeping in all the inner streets in the 377 wards of the State.

The Commissioner urged Lagosians to cooperate with the government by desisting from indiscriminate dumping of refuse in unauthorized places and by being the vanguard of their environment as the ultimate beneficiaries of the new system, which would not only alleviate poverty and enhance the aesthetics of the State but would also further deepen the economy of Lagos State by evolving a new viable sub-sector of the economy.

Ahead of the commencement of the full operation of the Cleaner Lagos Initiative in September, the State Government has lined up series of advocacy programme to be conducted across the five divisions of the State with different stakeholders including Community Development Associations (CDAs), market men and women, artisans and other groups in the State.

Mukaila Sanusi

Assistant Director, Public Affairs

Ministry of the Environment

14^th August, 2017

-As a PSP operator is apprehended dumping with trucks

The Lagos State Government has warned residents fond of deliberately dumping refuse in unauthorized places to henceforth desist from such act or face the full wrath of the law.

This warning was issued by the Commissioner for the Environment, Dr Babatunde Adejare during an Operation Deep Clean exercise which the State Government is currently embarking upon in collaboration with Visionscape to rid the State of refuse black spots.

The Commissioner, who affirmed the commitment of the government to the attainment of a sustainable environment, frowned at the ugly development whereby some anti- progressive forces strive to frustrate the efforts of the State Government by deliberately creating black spots of refuse to give the impression of non-performance by government.

His words: “we totally frown at acts of sabotage by people who are bent on shortchanging Lagosians from continuous enjoyment of the dividends of democracy being provided by the Akinwunmi Ambode Administration by trying to discredit the well-conceived environment reform of the State tagged, the Cleaner Lagos Initiative, which offers an enduring solution, in an unprecedented way, to the current waste management challenges”

Adejare, who recalled that the Akinwunmi Ambode Administration, being so passionate about the environment, had taken the bold step to initiate a reform in the sector with the introduction of a holistic, more sustainable and more efficient system to replace the old order, stressed that Lagosians would be the direct beneficiaries of the new system which is aimed to eradicate diseases, attain a livable State, create wealth and job opportunities for the people.

The Commissioner said that the State Government, bearing in mind the challenges of transition to the new system of Solid Waste Management, had inaugurated the “Operation Deep Clean” in the State. The operation which took effect two weeks ago has accounted for the clearing of over 12,600 tonnes of waste from illegal dumpsites across the State.

Adejare stated that the Operation Deep Clean had recorded successes in different locations across the State, including Ojuwoye-Mushin, Eti-Osa, Agege, Alimosho, Ojo, Ikeja, Badagary, Oshodi-Isolo, Lagos Island and Lagos Mainland amongst others.

Meanwhile, a PSP operator, Mr. Sanya Adeniyi, who was caught dumping a truck- load of refuse at Iyana-Oworo area of Lagos, was paraded to the media.

Adejare said that the perpetrator would be handed over to the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) for prosecution according to the Environmental Laws of the State.

He warned Lagosians to desist from indiscriminate dumping of refuse in their areas and also to be vigilant and report anyone engaging in such acts as Government would not hesitate to bring the Law to bear on anyone caught working against the public interest.

Mukaila Sanusi

Assistant Director (Public Affairs)

Ministry of the Environment

14^th August 2017

To ensure the success of the Cleaner Lagos Initiative (CLI) as an extensive and sustainable waste management system, the Lagos State Government has sought partnership with the private sector.

The Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Babatunde Adejare while speaking at the Cleaner Lagos Initiative investors’ roundtable in Victoria Island on Thursday, maintained that the partnership had become necessary for people to have a shift of attitude to be more responsive to and be protective of their environment.

Adejare said CLI had been designed to harness the great potential and economic capacity of Lagos by creating an enabling environment for the non-governmental agencies, private sector and the government to harness international best practice in the vital area of infrastructure.

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The Commissioner stressed that both the public and private sectors can work together to achieve a common good.

His words: “Today’s roundtable is just one example of the way in which the public and private sectors can work together effectively for a common good.  It is expected that working together, we can begin to shift the attitude of the people to be more responsive/protective of their environment through stringent legislation, enlightenment campaigns and strict enforcement.”

Adejare told the investors that for the initiative to succeed there was the need to have a sustainable long-term funding at both the state and local levels to

support the efforts needed to reach the State’s goals, stressing that meeting these goals was critical to ensure continued process, development and economic growth.

While maintaining that government had budgetary constraints to fund its activities,  the Commissioner said that “ budgetary constraints and an acknowledgement of private sector efficiencies and know-how were two principal reasons why this administration had taken the economic and political decision to accelerate the use of private sector finance and adopt a Public Private Partnership model in order to deliver solid waste management infrastructure, which would have been previously built by the public sector, using public sector finance in a lengthier and less impactful way.”

He said that to fund these reforms as a whole, the government had come up with is the Public Utility Levy (PUL) which is a subsidized property-based charge designed to pay for these and other environmental interventions.

“The PUL will be a major contribution to the State’s ongoing efforts to address severe challenges that are unique to Lagos as a result of rising urbanization,” He said.

He maintained further that the money would not be paid into government accounts but would be held in the Environmental Trust Fund (ETF) and managed meticulously by an independent Board of Trustees.

The Commissioner reaffirmed confidence in the competence and capacity of the concessionaires to transform the landscape through provision of the Transfer Loading Stations, Waste Depots and the provision of Engineered Sanitary Landfills, as well track-able waste bins and over 500 compactors of varying sizes and capacity, are without question.

Mukaila Sanusi

Ministry of the Environment

11^th August, 2017

The Lagos State Government has directed owners of buildings that blocked the water channels in all the flood-prone areas, especially Dolphin and Ilubirin Estates to quit their buildings or face demolition by the Government.

The directive was given by the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode while reacting to media enquiries on the efforts of government to mitigate the effect of the flood that took place in some parts of Lagos State two weekends ago.

The governor said government had noted that the flood which was experienced in some parts of Lagos weekends ago was as a result of buildings erected on drainage right of ways and water channels in the State especially in Victoria Island, Dolphin Estate, Ilubirin Estate, Ajah and Lekki.

Governor Ambode said his administration is committed to ensuring a flood-free, clean, healthy, livable and sustainable environment as this holds the key to the wellbeing of the people.

He emphasized that to contain flood related challenges that may occur in the state, the government continued to invest in the construction, maintenance and dredging of tertiary, primary and secondary channels all over the state.

He therefore maintained that to guarantee easy passage of rainstorm which is the ultimate goal of clearing and cleaning our drainage channels,   “Lagosians must desist from acts compromising easy flow of water especially during raining season so as to avert flood, building and erection of structures on drainage setbacks among others dumping refuse in drainage channels.”

Governor Ambode stated that his administration had developed zero tolerance for environmental abuse, especially drainage blockage, construction on waterways and drainage alignments and indiscriminate refuse dumping, etc.

The Governor urged Lagosians to be safety conscious during this raining period, as well as cultivate good attitude to the environment by not impeding free flow of storm water through dumping of refuse in canals and drainage channels, illegal constructions on the channels and all forms of trading on these public facilities.

To address the challenge of refuse littering some parts of Lagos State during the State’s transition to the new solid waste management system, the Lagos State Government has activated a sanitation intervention programme.

The Sanitation Intervention Programme, which became necessary to ensure that no stone is left unturned in the effort to achieve a clean, hygienic State, has afforded the State Government the opportunity to evacuate refuse from the nooks and crannies of the state as the intervention, which began since the third week of June, 2017, has taken place in all LGAs and LCDAs in Lagos State.

Consequently, refuse dumped indiscriminately in places such as Ojuwoye, Mushin, Eti-Osa, Agege, Alimosho, Ojo, Ikeja, Badagary, Oshodi-Isolo, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland etc, have been promptly carted away in order to restore clean, hygienic environment in those areas.

The intervention programme is a fall out of the fact that Lagos State is currently going through a transition in the management of solid waste generated in the State.

It should be recalled that the Akinwunmi Ambode Administration, being so passionate about the environment, has taken the bold step to initiate a reform in the sector with the introduction of an holistic, more sustainable and efficient system, tagged the Cleaner Lagos Initiative to replace the old order.

As in every transitional period, the litters of refuse being witnessed in some parts of the State is part of the temporary challenges of the transition to the new system of solid waste management in Lagos State, which will soon be a thing of the past as the Cleaner Lagos Initiative takes full effect in few weeks to come.

As the ultimate beneficiaries of the new system, which not only promises to enhance the aesthetics of the State but also with the potential to further deepen the economy of Lagos State by evolving a new viable sub-sector of the economy and alleviating poverty, Lagosians are urged to cooperate with the government by desisting from indiscriminate dumping of refuse in unauthorized places and by being the vanguard of their environment.

Mukaila Sanusi

Assistant Director (Public Affairs)

3^rd July, 2017

In furtherance of its Cleaner Lagos Initiative, the Lagos State Government has divided the State into five zones for effective all year round drainage cleaning and clearing.

This was disclosed by the Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Babatunde Adejare while addressing Newsmen in his office on Thursday.

The Commissioner who said that the zones would follow the five divisions of Lagos, which are: Ikeja, Badagry, Ikorodu, Lagos, and Epe, noted that the essence of the division into zones/unit was to give room for efficient flood management, clearing of all blocked drainage channels.

His words: “Government is determined in its pursuit of clean, sustainable and livable environment as this holds the key to the wellbeing of the people”.

“The Cleaner Lagos Initiative has as one of its components all year round maintenance of the secondary and tertiary drains as well as removal of refuse, vegetal growth and silt from drains to allow for free flow of storm water”, he emphasized.

The Commissioner reiterated the State Government’s zero tolerance for environmental abuse, especially indiscriminate refuse dumping, drainage blockage, construction on waterways and drainage alignments, etc

“Lagosians must however, desist from dumping refuse in drainage channels and stop acts compromising drainage alignment, such as building and erection of structures on drainage setbacks among others. The essence is to allow easy passage of rainstorm which is the ultimate goal of clearing and cleaning our drainage channels”, he stressed.

In a related development, Adejare on Thursday continued his flood-free advocacy by visiting the Naval Dockyard, Ikota Resettlement Area, Lekki, County Homes and Apese Community to examine the situation of things after last weekend flooding.

At the Naval Dockyard, Victoria Island, where he monitored the efficiency of the Naval Dockyard Outfall serving, Oju-Olobu, Akarigbere, NEPA, NTA and other parts of Victoria Island, Adejare was received by Rear Admiral Danladi, the Superintendent of Naval Dockyard Ltd, who promised continued cooperation of the Dockyard with State Government in ensuring the free-flow of the outfall.

Also at the Stakeholders meeting with resident of Apese , Lekki County Homes and Ikota Resettlement Communities, Adejare appealed to the citizenry to co-operate with the government in its continuous deflooding programme, adding that this is the only way by which we can prevent needless loss of lives and property and sustain a healthy living.

Mukaila Sanusi

Assistant Director (Public Affairs)

14^th July, 2017