Lagos — Ahead of the June 2004 take-off date of new waste disposal strategy, the Lagos State Government took its campaign for popular participation in keeping the state clean to high density areas of Mushin, Itire and Idi Araba on Saturday.

Deputy Governor, Mr Femi Pedro who led members of the Executive council, urged people of these areas to support the private sector-driven waste management initiative by picking part of the bill.

Noting that the cost of managing waste per house in Lagos State is estimated at N2,000, stating that the state would pick N1,500 of the bill while each house will pay a flat rate of N500 monthly. And to check fraud and financial sharp practices, Pedro said the government has reached an accord with banks to issue receipts for payments.

According to him rather than allow cart pushers to turn all open spaces and medians to dump sites, the state decided that each tenement should buy bags sold at N80 for 10 pieces or a bigger plastic container in which to drop the waste for operators to cart away.

He further stated that the penalty for non-compliance is heavy as culprits will face a mobile court with the possible imposition of a fine of up to N25,000.

While appealing to the people to desist from indiscriminate dumping of waste on medians, Pedro noted that the state would continue to use enlightenment as a key strategy to sensitize Lagosians on the need for environmental cleanliness.