NATIONAL SANITATION DAY: LASG URGES RESIDENTS TO KEEP ENVIRONMENT CLEAN

… As State Holds Community Sanitation Clean-Up Exercise

The Lagos State Government on Friday urged residents to continue to keep their environment clean while imbibing good environmental sanitation and hygiene practices.

The Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services, Dr. Gaji Omobolaji Tajudeen made the appeal at the maiden celebration of National Environmental Sanitation Day (NESD) and the Second Quarterly Community Sanitation Clean-Up Exercise of the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources held at Ojodu Local Government Development Area. 

The Permanent Secretary, who spoke through the Director of Sanitation Services, Dr. Hassan Sanuth, said it is necessary to prevent the occurrence and spread of not only cholera but also other sanitation-related diseases. 

He explained that the Federal Ministry of Environment, with the approval of the National Council on Environment (NCE) in conjunction with State and all Local Governments, has set aside the 28th of June every year as National Environmental Sanitation  Day.

Highlighting the theme for 2024, “Environmental Sanitation in the Era of Climate Change”, Gaji stressed that the purpose of the celebration was to create awareness among the Nigerian populace on the importance of sanitation practices as a veritable means of controlling and preventing communicable diseases.

He mentioned that currently the country is faced with the challenge of a cholera outbreak and Lagos is one of the affected States. “As we all know, cholera is spread through contaminated water or food that are results of unhygienic and poor sanitation practices such as open defecation, poor waste management and poor personal hygiene amongst others”, he said. 

The Permanent Secretary noted that before the Cholera outbreak, the State had scaled up its sanitation monitoring and awareness in public spaces focusing on Motor Parks and Garages, Markets, Public Schools, Abattoirs and Slaughterhouses with the aim of sustainable good sanitation practices amongst the people.

Advising all residents to imbibe the culture of regular hand washing before eating and ensure that they cook their food thoroughly before consumption, Gaji emphasised that residents need to ensure proper waste disposal through the patronage of the LAWMA accredited PSP operators and regular cleaning of the tertiary drains for sustainable environment.

He added that residents should ensure they cut all overgrown vegetation, use the toilets for defecation and urination as well as ensure good sanitation that will support the economic growth and well-being of all. 

He said the Government has also expanded coverage through community-led sanitation initiatives leveraging on monthly Community Development Committees (CDCs) meetings for advocacy and engagement on general environmental sanitation issues. 

He submitted that this year alone, officers from the Ministry have attended 11 CDC meetings across the LGAs in the State to sensitise residents on the need for Community Sanitation, saying the Ministry collaborated with two communities every quarter to carry out clean-up exercises.

He expressed appreciation to Ojodu LCDA, Community Development Committee, Community Development Association, residents of the Orile-Aguda community, State volunteer group and Coalition of Lagos Environmental Groups (COLEG) for their support to ensuring the cleanliness of the environment.  

Earlier in his introductory remarks, the Chairman, Ojodu Local Government Development Area, Hon. Segun Odumbaku charged the residents to always keep their environment safe and clean, especially during this period of Cholera outbreak.

The Chairman, who spoke through the Vice Chairman, Hon. Bunmi Oluyadi. said Lives have been lost to the Cholera outbreak, urging everyone to always keep their environment clean by embracing proper waste disposal amongst others.