Surulere Emerges Cleanest Local Council
Yesterday, Lagos State Government demanded full participation from citizens to its efforts to create a cleaner environment. As the 2021 sanitation competition for cleanest local council reached its climax, prices were awarded.
Lady Ibijoke Sanwoo-Olu was the wife of Governor Babajide Sanwoo-Olu. She spoke during the presentation prizes such as mini vans to cleanest Local Councils in the metropolitan, urban, and sub-urban categories.
Reprised by Mrs Oyindamola Ogunsanwo she stated that the non-participation in the people’s lives is directly responsible for the failure to deliver services to communities and people, and the lack of sustainable outcomes.
She recalled that since the inception of the presentadministration, the State had resolved to rescue the environment from all forms of abuse and declared zero tolerance on environmental nuisances.
According to her, the event was put together to encourage community participation and foster a good relationship between the two tiers of government – State and Local Council in terms of Environmental Sanitation and Community Cleanliness.
She said that the unsanitary conditions in some communities in the State are a concern and that they need to be addressed. The purpose of the exercise is to assess environmental sanitation across the communities, including waste management, street cleaning, and tertiary drainage maintenance.
Poor sanitation can lead to diseases and other health-related problems. Experts have established that the health of a location is directly related to its environment. She stated that they are interrelated.
She pointed out that, apart from the market sanitation initiative of the Office of the Lagos StateFirst lady coordinated by the Committee of Women of Lagos State Officials COWLSO and other important MDAs after the 2016 cancellation of the monthly environment sanitation, there has not been an opportunity to tour all Local Councils/Local Development Areas in the State.
To close this gap, we have decided to organize an annual sanitation competition between all LGAs/LCDAs. The objective is to assess the sanitation situation of the entire State and to reward LGAs/LCDAs for their outstanding environmental management skills.
Tunji Bello (Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources), stated earlier that sustainable solid-waste management is a key challenge in a rapidly urbanizing society like Lagos. She also said that poor waste management contributes to climate change by causing water pollution and air pollution.
Bello stated that the State’s interventions in waste management since 2003 are aimed at building the necessary capacities and making it more business-friendly for allinvestments.
He said that it was sad that Local Council authorities have given up their constitutional responsibilities for solid waste management, which is one of their fundamental functions.
The Commissioner stressed the need for all LGAs/LCDAs to undergo a shift in orientation and be aware of their constitutional responsibilities, working towards acquiring necessary capacities
He said that it was based upon the aforementioned that the Ministry, with the approval of Mr Governor, revived the annual environmental sanitation competition among LGAs and LCDAs to raise awareness on the need for sanitation to be a vehicle for change in the larger society.
Bello stated that the criteria used for the assessments include solid waste management in the communities, streets/street cleanliness and open defecation/urination, markets sanitation, sanitation status of motorparks and garages, primary healthcare centres, Local Council Secretariats, and general aesthetics of LGAs/LCDAs.
There may be many ways to address these challenges. However, monitoring and interventions at LCDA/LGs level would make a significant difference in creating a healthier and cleaner environment. He stressed that it would not only improve sanitation in communities but also help with socio-economic development.
He stated that the LGAs/LCDAs Awards were categorised into Urban, Sub-Urban and Metropolitan for ease of assessment. Awards were also given to the Cleanest Market, Motor Park, Primary Health Centre, and MDAs in both the old and new Secretariats.
Mrs. Belinda Odeneye (Permanent Secretary Office of Environmental Services), spoke as well. She said that the 2021 Sanitation Competition Awards ceremony is a testimony and must continue to be an event for generations.
She stated that it was the driving force behind environmental sanitation cleanliness in Local Councils/Local Council Development Areas.
Hon Sesan Daini was kind enough to send a message of gratitude to the Chairman of Igbogbo Baiyeku LCDA. He expressed his appreciation for the gesture and promised that next year would see more participation.
Also speaking, Ibrahim Odumboni the LAWMA managing director, stated that his agency was involved during the grading process. He can also testify that the outcome is fair.
Surulere LGA (Epe LGA), Oriade LCDA and Surulere LGA were the winners in each category. They were also the cleanest Local Councils or LCDA in the Metropolitan and Urban categories. Each of the three councils received a plaque and a Suzuki minibus branded with their names.
Prizes were also given out to the cleanest markets, cleanest Motor Parks, cleanest local council headquarters, and the cleanest Primary Health Care Centre.
