Environmental stakeholders have called for stricter penalties and stronger enforcement to tackle indiscriminate waste dumping across Lagos, as concerns over public health and environmental safety continue to rise.
Speaking on Issues in the News, a Radio One programme, environmentalist, Mr. Olushola Adekola, emphasized that effective waste management goes beyond policy declarations and requires consistent law enforcement, strategic public awareness, and capacity building for enforcement officers.
He noted that introducing incentives for responsible waste disposal, alongside sustained media campaigns, would significantly improve compliance among residents.
Adekola also highlighted the importance of promoting waste-to-wealth initiatives through recycling, recommending that such education be integrated into school curricula to instill environmental responsibility from an early age.
He added that parents must reinforce these practices at home to build long-term behavioral change.Contributing to the discussion, Chairman of the Environmental Committee in Ogunshe Estate, Ikorodu, Mr. Raji Oloungbemi, stressed the need for a cultural shift back to traditional values of cleanliness and communal responsibility.
He maintained that environmental sanitation begins with individuals taking ownership of their surroundings while adhering to existing regulations.
Olungbemi further urged the government to reassess the current waste management framework by allowing more efficient operators to participate in the system.
He expressed concerns over the performance of some Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators and called for reforms that would strengthen operational efficiency and service delivery across the state.
He concluded that a combination of personal responsibility, institutional accountability, and systemic reform is essential to achieving a cleaner and healthier Lagos.
Written by Bukola Abe