Oto-Awori residents appeal to Lagos govt for dumps

Residents of Ojomo-Ekunpa,Imude and other communities in Oto-Awori Local Development Area of Lagos State at the weekend, appealed to the state government to provide a rubbish dump for them.Making the appeal on behalf of the communities, a community leader in Imude Community, Mr Josaiah Ashade, said the absence of dumps in the communities was responsible for the indiscriminate dumping of refuse by residents.The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Ashade made the appeal when the Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment, Mr Tunji Bello, led other state officials to monitor the monthly environmental sanitation exercise in the area.Bello had complained of indiscriminate dumping of refuse by the residents, saying the dumping had disrupted free-flow of water at a major canals in the area, causing environmental nuisance.``One of the major problems we are facing in this area is that of lack of dumpsite where residents can easily dispose their refuse.``Most residents, because of lack of where to dump their wastes, dispose them carelessly. This has affected the sanitary condition of the communities around as well as the free flow of water at Ojomo Canal,`` Ashade said.He noted that the failure of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) to send trucks to collect household wastes in the area had compounded the problem.Ashade thanked the government for completing a major road, linking different communities in the Local Development Area, adding that the road aided transportation and commerce in the area.Responding to questions on how to solve the problem, Bello said the state government would meet with authorities of the local development area to find a suitable place where a dumpsite could be located.While assuring that the state government was committed to ensuring clean environment in all parts of the state, he urged the residents to stop dumping refuse in the canal, adding that the practice could lead to flooding.``We will direct LAWMA to in the meantime, come regularly to pick your wastes till we agree on where to have the dumpsite. Do not dump wastes in the Ojomo Canal anymore because it could lead to disasters.``Also, the road the government has just provided in the area could be damaged if we block canals and allow water to wash it away. We need you to co-operate with us to protect your environment,`` he said.
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