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Tag: LASEPA

  • LASEPA, NPA unite for cleaner Lagos

    LASEPA, NPA unite for cleaner Lagos

    The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) and Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) have agreed on a nine-point workable resolutions to protect the environment from pollution and other environmental infractions.

    This was part of the agreements reached yesterday during a meeting between the two agencies.

    The resolutions include – common communication channels between LASEPA and NPA to bridge communication gap; joint quarterly meetings, inclusion of LASEPA in agencies committee meetings, inclusion of LASEPA officials in Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) meetings, jointly conducted surveillance operations along waterways, joint stakeholders engagement and awareness campaigns, collaboration on the use of LASEPA’s ISO certificated laboratory for analysis, data sharing for environmental audit report as well as collaboration to allow NPA staff access LASEPA laboratory for knowledge sharing.

    LASEPA General Manager Tunde Ajayi said there was need for collaboration and mutual cooperation between LASEPA and NPA in various areas of environmental management so as to make a safe and sustainable environment possible.

    Read Also: LASEPA releases Air Quality Index, marks Ojo hazardous

    Dr Ajayi also stressed the need for understanding and joint efforts in tackling environmental challenges. He noted that Lagos remains the first point of contact and respondent in any emergency situation, ‘hence the need for proper enforcement of its environmental regulations to protect human life and the ecosystem’.

    “This meeting is to explore opportunities for collaboration and mutual cooperation between LASEPA and NPA in various areas related to environmental sustainability, particularly tank farms management, oil spillage, Monitoring and Enforcement, submission of statutory reports, audit, environmental contingency, among other areas,” Dr Ajayi explained

    Principal Manager (Health Safety and Environment) at NPA, Emeka Uchendu, who represented the Acting General Manager, Adekunle Adesona, expressed NPA’s readiness to work closely with LASEPA to implement environmentally-friendly practices that would promote the growth of a sustainable environment in an emerging smart city like Lagos.

    According to him, NPA had embarked on some initiatives to further promote a clean and sustainable environment in the State, and so urged the government to intensify efforts in its advocacy programmes on market sanitation, tree planting, flood-free Lagos, emission control, reduction in the use of non-biodegradable elements, among other initiatives.

    The meeting concluded positively with the two parties jointly agreeing to a nine-point workable resolutions,

  • LASEPA releases Air Quality Index, marks Ojo hazardous

    LASEPA releases Air Quality Index, marks Ojo hazardous

    Lagos state government, through the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), in its Air Quality Index report, has described the Ojo axis of the state, to be hazardous, while rating Ikorodu, Shomolu Ketu and its environs, as unhealthy.

    The agency, however, urged residents of these communities to mask up, while maintaining healthy practices.

    Highlighting some healthy practices, it further advised the residents to ensure rooms and offices are well-ventilated, pay attention to body changes, stay hydrated, and take their health seriously.

    Read Also: Yuletide: LASEPA, commission embark on environmental safety enforcement

    Other areas that also made it to the list are Oshodi 1 and 2, Agege, Lagos Mainland, Shomulu 1 and 2, Alimosho, Mushin 1, Eti-osa 1, Surulere 1, Kosofe 1 and 2, Apapa 1, and Ikeja 1and 2.

    LASEPA said: “Referring to the above statistics, it is advised that parents and child-minders be more proactive, as regards the health of young kids and adults alike. Let’s take as much precautions as we can. Prevention is cheaper than cure.”

    The Air Quality Index is a system used to warn the public of hazardous air pollution.

  • LASEPA moves against noise pollution during Yuletide

    LASEPA moves against noise pollution during Yuletide

    Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) has taken steps to address noise pollution, particularly during the festive period. 

    A pivotal one-day Stakeholders’ Parley was convened for leaders of entertainment industry across the state on November 8 at the Sidewalk Lounge, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    At the event, Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, stressed the importance of law and order in the management of noise pollution, especially during the festive period 

    He underscored the significance of industry players adhering to established rules and regulations governing nightlife in Lagos State

    Wahab said “compliance with these guidelines is crucial for striking a balance between the vibrant entertainment scene and the well-being of the community.”

    He said: “We recognise the vital role  entertainment industry plays in our cultural and economic landscape. However, it is imperative that we strike a harmonious chord between entertainment activities and the peace of mind of our residents.

    Read Also: LASEPA partners firm for stable electricity

    “This requires a concerted effort from stakeholders and strict adherence to the prescribed laws and regulations.”

    General Manager, LASEPA, Dr. Babatunde Ajayi, emphasised the critical need for collaborative efforts in finding sustainable solution to mitigate the adverse effects of noise pollution from nightclubs.

    He stressed the importance of striking a balance between vibrant nightlife and the well-being of residents.

    Ajayi outlined key strategies to effectively manage noise levels, including the implementation of soundproofing measures, setting reasonable decibel limits and establishing monitoring mechanisms.

    The measures, according to him, were designed to ensure that nightlife establishments thrived in their businesses, while maintaining a respectful coexistence with the surrounding community.

  • LASEPA vows to fight noise pollution

    Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) has pledged its public advocacy and enforcement against noise and environmental pollution.

    It said it will continue to do this until the state becomes noise free.

    LASEPA General Manager Ayodele Anthonio, who spoke yesterday in Alausa, Ikeja, at the 2019 International Noise Awareness Day organised by the agency in conjunction with Ministry of Environment, with the theme: “Protect your hearing, protect your health”, said noise pollution was one of the threats affecting residents.

    Anthonio, an engineer, said the agency would not relent in the fight “against this ugly trend until it becomes a thing of the past.”

    He said Lagos, being the commercial nerve centre of the country, with one of the largest population, was exposed to noise and environmental pollution on a daily basis, adding that the agency would not relent in public advocacy and enforcement “against this menace, as it has negative impact on health and well-being of the citizens.”

    A senior audiologist from Decibels Consultant, Lagos, Dr. Graham Amponsah, advised the public to be mindful of the drugs they take, saying some anti-malaria and antibiotics drugs can cause hearing loss.

    He lamented the high rate at which people lose their hearing because of abnormal use of musical gadgets and earpiece, noting that too much noise affects the brain, hearing and health.

     

  • LASEPA pleads compliance against environmental pollution 

    The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) has sought the cooperation of the public in making the State environment pollution free.

    LASEPA General Manager Antonio Ayodele, made this plea while declaring open the 5th annual workshop/seminar organised by the agency for Iron and Steel Sectors in Alausa, Lagos State.

    He said the seminar was to educate the companies on the need to protect the environment from being polluted during productions.

    “The iron and steel industries are one of the leading manufacturers within the state as their products are the strength of integrity in building and construction processes.”

    He said LASEPA’s concerns being the regulatory body committed to improve the standard environment is the level of dust and gas pollutions emanated from the production processes of the companies which is causing injurious to the environment. He noted that the agency’s total responsibility is to provide adequate and effective environment-friendly solutions to militate against any environmental challenges.

  • LASEPA declares hospitals, libraries, courts noise-free zones

    The government has declared public institutions noise free, the General Manager, Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) Anthonio Ayodele has said.

    Listed among such institutions are hospitals, libraries, court premises, and Government Reserved Areas (GRA), which noise/horn free signs would be installed.

    He disclosed this at the third stakeholders interactive session with the theme: ‘Noise pollution abatement evaluation in an emerging smart city, two years retrospect’. It was organised by the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) at  Alausa.

    Ayodele said the move was to make citizens imbibe the culture of a serene environment.

    He said the signages prohibiting noise would be installed by the agency.

    Ayodele, who disclosed that Agege and Alimosho for the past two years, have remained local governments with the highest noise pollution complaints, said worship centres have been identified as the worst spot of noise pollution, followed by the entertainment industry.

    “Increase in noise pollution from both indoor and outdoor activities of hotels, bars, clubs, lounges,beer parlors, and event centres among others in recent times became a source of concern to the government, especially where residential houses are converted for such purposes without necessary approvals,” he said.

    He said the time had come for the growth of smart solutions to th menace of noise pollution before it becomes intractable.

    Reflecting on past activities of the agency, Ayodele said LASEPA over the years had engaged in aggressive advocacy and mediation across the state to ensure peaceful co-existence of all segments of the society.

    He said 2016 conflicts were resolved between 2016 and last year, and to save time and resources of petitioners, the agency processed online complaints through an interactive website where citizens can generate complaints over environmental pollution issue without necessarily appearing at the agency.

    “Agency officials also embark on spy missions to get evidences of pollution without prior notice,” he added.

    The LASEPA chief said the government is committed to ensuring the realisation of a noiseless Lagos and urged all stakeholders to develop a culture of sustainable noise management even at the grassroots.

    “We must come together to redress noise pollution and develop a culture of sustainable noise management in all sectors of the economy,” Ayodele said.

    He said the need for positive attitudinal change by all was the way to good governance which is the desired goal of the state government.

    He also LASEPA with the Ministry of Transportation would  resuscitate the October 15, ‘Horn Free Day.’

    Earlier, the Commissioner for the Environment Mr Babatunde Durosinmi-Etti advocated self-compliance in all areas of the environment as the way to go to improve standard of living of the people.

    Durosinmi-Etti, who harped on Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s commitment to improving the quality of life of citizens said nothing would be achieved if citizens fail to actively contribute their quota to the promotion of a serene and peaceful environment.

  • LASEPA, LAWMA support Ecobank on cleaner Lagos Initiative

    The Lagos State environment regulators have lauded Ecobank Nigeria’s various initiatives towards sustainable and safer environment in the state.

    The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) and Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) affirmed that Ecobank’s deliberate policy to rid the state of non-biodegradable materials, such as plastic bottles and used beverage cans would go a long way in protecting the environment and promoting a cleaner Lagos.

    The two agencies pledged their support to the bank for the initiative.

    During the launch of Ecobank ‘Operation 150,000 bottles and cans’ in Lagos, LASEPA General Manager,  Adebola Shabi, praised Ecobank for being a socially responsible organisation.

    Shabi, represented by the Chief Scientific Officer, Mrs Sedoten Agosa-Anikwe, said: “This pick and pay’policy of Ecobank, which involves paying people to pick used plastic bottles and cans from Lagos streets would not only empower the unemployed youths but also check the recurring flooding in the state.

    “This is an organisation that is thinking out of the box. A bank that is effectively contributing to the society where it operates. A responsible and caring corporate citizen. We salute Ecobank.”

    Similarly, LAWMA Assistant General Manager, Special Services, Jide Onayiga, called on all corporate stakeholders in Lagos to take cue from Ecobank by partnering the state government to ensure a cleaner Lagos.

    He reiterated the Ambode administration’s commitment to a sustainable environment through the recent signing the Environmental Management and Protection Bill into law.

    Ecobank’s Corporate Banking Executive Director, Akin Dada, explained that the bank had set aside a sustainability campaign week as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) to give back and ensure a safer community where it operates.

    According to Dada, ‘‘Ecobank is a brand that is committed to sustaining the environment for all. This is part of the universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity.’

     

  • LASEPA partners firm

    LASEPA partners firm

    The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) has collaborated with ROTIMAX Integrated Services Ltd to hold a one-day seminar for hoteliers, representatives of organisations and pest control professionals.

    The programme, which is part of efforts by the agency to promote a pest and rodent-free environment and contribute to eco-friendly environment for Lagosians and suburbs alike, held at the NUT Pavilion Alausa, Lagos..

    General Manager of LASEPA Adebola Shabi said the seminar was organised to deliberate on principles of fumigation and integrated pest management. Participants were educated on what to look out for in a professional pest control company as regards LASEPA’s standard.

    He warned that people against substituting agro-allied pesticides for public health pesticide and avoid patronising quacks.

    Managing Director of Rotimax Tolulope Caleb said the seminar, which is a public enlightenment campaign, is the first of its kind in Lagos State.

    The convener said efforts are on to enure the organisation partners relevant bodies to continuously promote healthy environment via awareness programme.

     

  • ‘LASEPA’ll continue to enforce environmental laws’

    ‘LASEPA’ll continue to enforce environmental laws’

    Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) General Manager Adebola Shabi has said the agency would continue to support Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s vision of making the state safer, cleaner and healthier for habitation.
    Shabi, who spoke at a news conference in Lagos, said LASEPA would enforce the law on noise and environmental pollution to enable the governor achieve his aim of noise-free environment by year 2020.
    According to Shabi, Ambode’s aim was to woo more investors to the mega city, noting that no investor would invest in an unsafe, unclean and unhealthy environment. He noted that the level of compliance to a noiseless environment was still within 40 and 44 per cent, which is still below expectation.
    He urged religious homes, hotels and club houses to soundproof their premises, including power generating sets, to prevent the noise from escaping and disturbing neighbours.
    The LASEPA boss admonished them to build certified acoustic walls and install soundproof generators, asking them to visit the LASEPA office to have adequate knowledge of certified acoustic walls.
    He added that the agency would enforce zero tolerance for street carnivals, life bands in drinking joints, club houses, as well street/road promos, open parties, roadside mechanic workshops, street car dealers and illegal structures, especially on drains.

  • LASEPA to sanction erring firms, others

    LASEPA to sanction erring firms, others

    The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) has said it will sanction any company, market or individual found to have violated the state’s environmental regulations.

    Its General Manager and Chief Executive Officer, Adebola Shabi, spoke at this year’s compliance workshop with the theme: Self-compliance: Key to Environmental Management Effectiveness, organised by the agency at Alausa in Ikeja, the state capital.

    The LASEPA chief said the workshop was aimed at ensuring a robust interaction with facility operators on how to address environmental challenges across the state.

    He said the agency would sanction the owners of 15 facilities among the 20 it caught in 2015 for various environmental infractions after giving them various options for compliance.

    Shabi said the state government was not happy to sanction the residents and major players in its public life.

    But the LASEPA chief said the measures were necessary to stem disruption in the state’s economic and social life and to correct the government’s and its agencies’ images.

    He said no responsible government would tolerate environmental abuses because public health, safety and order were vital to sustainable development.

    Shabi said: “We must be determined to make our environment safe. Let us collectively combat environmental pollution in the state.”

    A professor of Environmental and Analytical Chemistry at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Mrs Kehinde Olayinka, noted that pollutants do not recognise boundaries.

    She said many cannot be degraded because they destroy the environment and life.

    The expert said the current global warning could affect every country, adding that it could cause serious distress to humans and animals by driving many species to danger and even extinction.

    The Permanent Secretary in Ministry of the Environment, Saliu Adeyemi, urged he residents to free the state from the environmental challenges.

    He said the government placed a high premium on environmental matters.

    The permanent secretary said the Akinwunmi Ambode administration was  focused on environmental sustainability to manage and ensure effective planning and regulations that would mitigate the effects of  flooding, coastal erosion, loss of natural ecology and pollution by air, water, land and noise.

     

    He stressed that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode led-administration has poised to encourage self-regulation, which is the focus of the workshop. He said the administration believes that advocacy and enlightenment should be the highest level of dealings in the public, for citizens to comply willingly and pass the message across to others.

    He urged the Lagosians to let continue educating ourselves on environmental self-regulation to enable our environment free from pollution and other side effects.