By Our Correspondent
The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) served 343 contravention notices on construction sites at various locations in the state last year.
Mr Tokunbo Wahab, Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, announced this at the ministerial press briefing at Ikeja, Lagos.
TheNewsZenith reports that the briefing is to mark one year of the second term of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu Administration.
The commissioner said LAWMA served the notices as the sites for failure to comply with its construction waste regulation procedure.
According to him, LAWMA also issued 354 new introduction noticesto construction firms within the same period while it carried out enforcement on 10 recalcitrant sites.
“Last year, LAWMA served no fewer than 343 contravention notices on construction firms. This because they failed to comply with the rules and regulations governing construction waste management.
“It is the responsibility of the Construction Demolition and Disaster Waste Department of LAWMA to work with construction firms for the smooth evacuation of waste generated by them.
“But some of them are not playing by the rules, hence the notices,” Wahab said.
He further said the agency identified 103 black spots around the state, which it mobilised its operations men to clear.
“It is sad that despite persistent warnings and actual enforcements, some residents still refuse to patronise assigned PSP operators.
“They preferred to dump waste in canals, on road medians and other illegal points. This habit must stop.”
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Through the Ministry of Environment, the commissioner said LAWMA had signed an MoU with a private company, Jospong Group, on waste treatment solutions.
According to him, the MoU entailed identifying existing landfill sites, for proper re-engineering of solid waste management system, to generate employment.
He also hinted that LAWMA was working with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) and the Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance (FBRA), to identify locations for the installation of plastic recycling facilities.
Wahab added that the initiative would ensure mass removal of plastic items from the environment. It will also creat jobs.
“The Marine Unit of LAWMA during the year, procured additional five rafters to aid collection of on-shore and off-shore waste.
On markets environment, the commissioner said LAWMA held stakeholder engagement in major markets last year.
“This has considerably improving hygiene practices, waste containerisation and evacuation among others,” he said.
Within the period under review, Wahab said LAWMA apprehended and prosecuted about 1,100 defaulters.
“Majority of them received sentences to hours of community service or fined various sums of money.”
The commissioner reminded residents, who indulge in defacing the environment, to desist or face the wroth of the law.
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