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Tag: LAWMA

  • UPDATED: ‘Reckless’ driver kills two LAWMA workers in Lagos expressway crash

    UPDATED: ‘Reckless’ driver kills two LAWMA workers in Lagos expressway crash

    Two sanitation workers of Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) were early Monday, feared killed by a ‘reckless’ driver in Lagos.

    The driver, who is at large, reportedly killed the sweepers who were discharging their duties around the Gbagada expressway axis.

    The agency also said security agencies are on the trail of the driver.

    Eyewitnesses said the driver was evading arrest when he ran into the LAWMA workers.

    Protesters who spoke with The Nation at the scene of the incident, accused officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) of chasing the driver who crushed the LAWMA workers to death.

    The Nation learnt the two sanitation workers are siblings residing in Ajenipa Street, Ladi-Lak area, Bariga.

    Hundreds of motorists and commuters were trapped for hours in the gridlock along Oshodi-Gbagada expressway until normalcy was restored.

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    The gridlock had worsened when bystanders blocked both routes of the expressway, causing standstill in vehicular movement.

    The influx of vehicles plying the lanes to navigate their destinations inward the expressway created a backlog of traffic that trapped many motorists including travellers heading to Murtala Muhammed International Airport.

    A statement by the agency obtained by The Nation said: “The Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) regrets to announce the tragic death of two of our esteemed sanitation workers, who were hit by a reckless driver, in the cause of discharging their lawful duties and rendering invaluable services to humanity around Gbagada axis.

    “LAWMA is working with security agencies to apprehend and prosecute the errant driver of the car, with vehicle number EPE 984 DV.

    “We wish to appeal to motorists for the umpteenth time, to drive with utmost caution on the highways, to avoid sad incidents like this happening to our sanitation workers or anyone in the course of their legitimate duties.

    “The public is urged to remain calm as appropriate steps are being taken and necessary measures put in place.

    “Our heartfelt condolences go to the families of the deceased, whom we love most dearly. May their souls continue to rest in peace.”

    The spokesman for the Lagos State Police Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, who confirmed normalcy has been restored, noted that: “Most definitely, we will not allow a breakdown of law and order.”

    Also, Jubril Gawat, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu tweeted: “Gbagada Expressway … ALL CLEAR at the moment. The Nigeria Police formations still on the ground to forestall breakdown of Law and Order.”

  • LAWMA seals Alamutu market

    LAWMA seals Alamutu market

    The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has sealed Alamutu (Ologede) Market at Idi-oro, Mushin, over poor sanitary conditions and improper waste disposal practice.

    Managing Director/CEO Muyiwa Gbadegesin said the measure was part of LAWMA’s ongoing efforts at combating pervasive filth in markets across the state. He added that high sanitary standards were imperative for all markets, for wholesome health of traders and customers.

    “It is paramount that we maintain a hygienic environment in our markets. This action is not just a response to Alamutu Market’s conditions, but a part of LAWMA’s ongoing commitment to ensuring that markets in Lagos meet the required standards of cleanliness and sanitation,” Gbadegesin said.

    He added that the enforcement followed the recent closure of several other markets, including Oyingbo, Ladipo, and Alayabiagba, due to similar offences.

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    Gbadegesin noted that the closures underscored LAWMA’s determination to enforce sanitation regulations uniformly across all markets, regardless of location or size.

    LAWMA has also begun clearing illegal trading activities along the Yaba Railway corridor to address environmental infractions.

    Gbadegesin said the enforcement was necessary to foster a cleaner and healthier living environment for all residents.

    “LAWMA is committed to stamping out activities capable of defacing the environment and endangering the people’s lives,” he added.

  • LAWMA employs 20 physically challenged

    To empower physically challenged persons and keen on integrating them into the authority’s vision of a cleaner and livable environment, the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has employed 20 challenged as sweepers of pedestrian bridges across the state.

    LAWMA Managing Director Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin,  said the authority had stepped up its drive to rid the state of waste and it had become necessary to engage stakeholders, including physically challenged persons.

    “The cleanliness of the Lagos State is a collective responsibility. We need all hands to be on deck to help us realise our vision of building a cleaner city we all will be proud of. That is why we have decided to engage these special sweepers to play their own part in achieving this,” he said.

    Gbadegesin said LAWMA had engaged the disabled sweepers, instead of leaving them to beg on the streets, adding that they would be assigned to clean various pedestrian bridges in the state, such as  Ojota New Bridge, Alausa Secretariat Bridge, Ikeja Along Bridge and CMS Bridge.

    He said: “We have mapped out pedestrian bridges where they will be operating, such as Ojota New Bridge, Alausa Secretariat Bridge, Ikeja Along Bridge, CMS Bridge, Palm Groove bridge, Oshodi Oke bridge, and Anthony Bus Stop.’’

  • LAWMA shuts Sangotedo market for illegal dumping of refuse

    The ever busy Sangotedo Market in Eti Osa, Lagos, has been shut down by the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), due to indiscriminate dumping of refuse and poor hygiene practices by traders which has created serious environmental problem in the area.

    The shutdown was contained in a press release by LAWMA’s director of public affairs, Mrs. Folashade Kadiri. The release cited the governor’s executive order on traffic and sanitation matters, which stresses government’s zero tolerance for environmental abuse, including illegal and indiscriminate dumping of refuse and defacing the environment.

    The agency noted that government’s efforts at restoring environmental sanity in the area were being thwarted by unhygienic activities of traders, who had consistently violated environmental laws and refused to patronize assigned PSP operators.

    It stressed that the management was working round the clock to reposition the organisation to rid the state of waste, necessitating the introduction of “Lagos at 4 am” operation and other laudable initiatives, aimed at restoring environmental integrity in the state.

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    The statement further said that the authority had strongly warned of severe sanctions, including further closure of markets that indulge in indiscriminate dumping of refuse and on road medians.

    It urged residents to support the state government’s quest to establish sustainable and livable environment that would be the pride of everyone, adding that they should shun indiscriminate waste disposal and patronize assigned PSP operators.

    It would be recalled that in February 2019, LAWMA warned that it would shut down Ladipo ultra-modern market in Mushin, due to poor waste management practices, a plan later shelved after the traders turned a new leaf.

    “For complaints and inquiries on the activities of the Authority, please call these toll-free lines 617, 07080601020 or send a direct message via Twitter @lawma_gov”, the release further stated.

  • LAWMA raises alarm over Apapa ‘degeneration’

    Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has raised the alarm over what it called the continuous degeneration of quality of life through collapse of public hygiene and waste management services in the Apapa area.

    In a statement made available to The Nation, the agency said the deplorable condition of the environment at Apapa occasioned by the inaccessibility of the roads for LAWMA vehicles in the area, had become a source of worry for the organisation.”

    LAWMA said in recent times, it has intensified efforts to rid the state of backlog of wastes, which are known to have defaced the environment, saying it has deployed trucks across the state to stem the tide of indiscriminate dumping of refuse, as well as engaged the Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators to tackle wastes at household level,”he stated.

    The statement stated that efforts by the Authority to extend its services to Apapa are being hampered by articulated trucks, which had made the road impassable for LAWMA and PSP operators.

    “Our findings showed a general degradation of the environment in the area and a looming epidemic, if the situation is not quickly addressed. Owing to this situation, LAWMA sweepers cannot work efficiently there; people bathe and defecate on the road, thus wearing out the asphalt. The roads have also been turned into mechanic workshops where major repairs of heavy trucks are carried out, spilling engine oil and diesel on same road.

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    “To avert the outbreak of epidemy in the area, there is need for the authorities concerned to clear Apapa for smooth operation by our operatives. Residents are thus called upon to support LAWMA in this effort to save this crucial part of the state from the continuous degradation,” the statement read.

    LAWMA appealed to the authorities in Apapa to take urgent steps to address this critical issue for the sake of the environment and people who do their businesses there, adding that the agency’s goal is to achieve a cleaner and healthier Lagos.

  • LAWMA threatens to shut Ladipo market

    The  Ladipo Auto-parts Market in Mushin, may be shut  till further notice because of its dirty environment, the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has warned.

    Spokesman Obinna Onyenali said the authority’s attention had been drawn to the unwholesome environmental practices by the traders.

    Such practices, he said, had resulted in indiscriminate dumping of waste and degradation of the environment.

    Onyenali said the authority was doing everything to ensure that trading was conducted in a clean and safe environment.

    LAWMA’s trucks, he said, were being deployed for timely  waste evacuation and sweeping of the markets.

    “However, these efforts are being tainted by the activities of mischievous persons who will rather dump their waste indiscriminately on the roads than patronise their assigned Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators.

    “LAWMA condemns in strongest terms this unwholesome act being perpetrated by traders at Ladipo Market, as it exposes the environment and people that do business there to health dangers.

    “The authority takes this opportunity to urge traders at the market to turn a new leaf or face the consequences of the law.

    “If these acts against the environment continue unabated, the market will be shut till further notice,” Onyenali said in a statement.

  • We may shut Ladipo Market over waste management – LAWMA

    The Lagos Waste Management Authority ( LAWMA ) said on Friday that it might close Ladipo Market in Mushin, till further notice, if the waste situation continued unabated.

    LAWMA’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Obinna Onyenali, said that the attention of the authority had been drawn to the unwholesome environmental practices being carried out by traders at the Ladipo Market.

    Onyenali said that such practices had resulted to indiscriminate dumping of waste and degradation of the environment.

    He said that the authority had, in recent times, doubled its efforts to ensure that business transactions in all Lagos markets were conducted in a clean and safe environment.

    According to him, the authority has doubled its efforts through timely deployment of trucks for waste evacuation and sweeping of the markets.

    “However, these efforts are being tainted by the activities of mischievous persons who would rather dump their waste indiscriminately on the roads than patronise their assigned Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators.

    “LAWMA condemns in strongest terms this unwholesome act, being perpetuated by the traders of Ladipo Market, as it exposes the environment and the people that do business there to various health dangers.

    “The authority seizes this opportunity to urge the merchants at the market to turn a new leaf or face the consequences of the Law.

    “If these heinous acts against the environment continue unabated, the market will be shut till further notice, ‘’ he said in a statement.

    Onyenali said that LAWMA wanted all markets to comply with the Environmental Laws of the state, which was essential for building a cleaner and healthier environment that everyone would be proud of.

    “The Authority appeals to all residents in the state to always imbibe the habit of effective waste management by bagging their waste for easy evacuation by their assigned PSPs,’’ he said.

  • Sweepers protest non-payment of salaries again

    ***we have started paying, says Perm. Sec.
    Sweepers of the Lagos State Community under the Cleaner Lagos Initiative (CLI) yesterday staged another protest to the seat of power in Alausa, the second in two weeks, against non-payment of November/December salaries among other greviances.

     
    The street sweepers who stormed the area last week said they had to repeat the action yesterday because the promises made to them last week especially over payment of salaries had not been adhered to by the government and that they were suffering as a result.
    According to one of the protesters, Oluwatobi Adeyeye, they protested to Alausa when they held a meeting with the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of the Environment, Mr. Biodun Bamgboye with the head of LAWMA and other government officials in attendance where they tabled their greviances.
    And the government team promised to get in touch with them on Friday but failed to do so, and every attempt by them to get in touch with the Permanent Secretary through calls and messages were not answered, even when they visited his office on Thursday last week to see him they couldn’t after waiting for hours in his office because he was not around.
    “Yesterday (Sunday) we sent him a message telling him we were coming today if they don’t see us and that is why we are here”.
    Speaking with journalists after addressing the protesters, the Permanent Secretary said the ministry has already commenced the payment of their November salary from yesterday and that approval for the December salary has been recieved and the ministry was working on it.
    Bamgboye told them that they should compile the names of those who by Thursday evening did not receive alert and bring the list to him on Friday.
    Some of protesters confirmed that they have started receiving alert for November salary but expressed sadness over the delay in the payment of their salaries, urging the Permanent Secretary to ensure that they receive their December salary in time.
    Bamgboye also said the other greviances of the protesters were being addressed, adding that it is a problem of transiting from one scheme to other.
    “The scheme under which they have been operating is not the same with the Civil Service scheme, so the process of transitting from one scheme to the other is responsible for what other problems they have highlighted and it is being addressed; it is a transition problem”, he said.

  • Street sweepers protest ‘salary delay, merger with LAWMA’

    Street sweepers under the Cleaner Lagos Initiative (CLI) yesterday at Alausa, Ikeja, protested against what they called salary delay and merger with the State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA).

    The sweepers, who stormed the seat of government at Alausa, urged Governor Akinwunmi Ambode  to come to their rescue.

    The placard-carrying protesters said they preferred to remain with CLI.

    They demanded an increase in salary, alleging that LAWMA is planning to reduce the workforce employed under the scheme and cut their salaries.

    The protesters alleged that  LAWMA’s failure led to CLI’s establishment, adding: “and now that the scheme has been jettisoned, we are back to square one under the agency.”

    They alleged that LAWMA did not give them tools, saying: “We now provide sweeping and packing materials for our job.”

    The sweepers rejected LAWMA’s directive that they should dump CLI’s uniform for the one provided by the agency.

    One of them, Mrs. Kehinde Egbetola, said their salaries were always delayed for about one month.

    She added: “We don’t have tools to work with. Our colleagues are dying. We don’t have health insurance, we are not pensionable. Many other things that can be of benefit to us are lacking. We are not illiterate, some of us are graduates.

    “I took this job because of unemployment to keep body and soul together, but the suffering is much.

    “We don’t want to be merged with LAWMA because the agency is fond of enslaving workers. We were employed by the government under the CLI.

    “We appeal to the government to regularise our appointment. At least, we are government workers, we should be given our Oracle numbers and identity cards” to show that we are government workers.’’

    Another protester, Bose Osinowo, said several of her colleagues were killed by reckless drivers while working on the road.

    Mrs. Kudirat Agboola said thay wanted the government to take care of the deceased’s six children, adding: “We don’t want to work under LAWMA.’’

  • EKEDC donates 500 rain jackets to LAWMA

    Eko Electricity Distribution Company Plc (EKEDC) on Monday donated 500 rain jackets to the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) in ensuring proper waste management across the state.

    Its Chief Executive Officer, Adeoye Fadeyibi, said the donation was a little way of contributing to the environment where EKEDC do business.

    Fadeyibi, who was represented by the company’s Chief Human Resources Officer, Aik Alenkhe, said the company would continue to support LAWMA’s initiatives geared towards ensuring cleanliness of Lagos.

    “We are not just doing this because we are in business but to impacts on the environment where we do business. The essence is to enhance our society in ensuring that we make more positive impacts in the environment where we do business,” he said.

    The EKEDC boss said the company is also working towards extending its CSR initiatives programmes to other corporate organisations in the State, like Lagos State Transport Management Authority (LASTMA).

    “As I speak today, we are also planning similar initiative with LASTMA; you can see that there is a huge gap, whenever there is heavy down pour, LASMA personnel working on the highway often hid for rain.

    “This is one of the thing we are also working on how we can we also support  the agency’s personnel   for effective control of traffic during the raining season, which is part of the company’s CSR initiatives,’’ Fadeyibi added.

    LAWMA General Manager Segun Adeniji said the gesture means the EKEDC cares and it also an expression of their CSR to support the state in keeping it clean and improve the welfare of our workers.