Olasunkanmi Akoni
11 January 2008
Lagos — Lagos State Government yesterday announced a seven-point agenda to confront the menace of environmental problems in the state.
Commissioner for the Environment Dr. Muiz Banire who disclosed this at a press conference in Alausa, Ikeja on the year 2008 plans and programmes of the minister, identified poor waste management, flooding/erosion, vegetal nuisances, sanitary problems and inadequate dumpsites and illegal dumpsites as major environmental challenges confronting the stateBanire added that pollution (air, water and noise) and indiscriminate erection of signage/banners/posters also constitutes obstacles to the improving environment in the state.
According to him, the pilot scheme of the agenda would be carried out in 10 major old local government areas in the first instance while others will take their turn in phases.
The pilot areas include Eti-Osa, Ikeja, Lagos Mainland, Lagos Island, Apapa and Surulere, Shomolu, Amuwo-Odofin, Kosofe and Oshodi local governments, adding that his ministry is poised to ensure indiscriminate dumping of refuse in unauthorized places, removal of all vegetal nuisances and cleaning of all unclean and blocked drains.
His words: "These identified local government areas are expected to be free from the following environmental nuisances: all forms of illegal street trading, environmental pollution, open defecation and urination and illegal building of structures on drainage alignments."
Banire also disclosed that his ministry is in collaboration with his education counterpart to introduce "Greenhands club" into primary and secondary school curriculum, saying, "Our intention is to 'catch them young' as a way towards influencing their parents and eventually the entire populace."
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as a citizen of this loving nation of ours,i need a concise write up on environmental pollution in nigeria.however in relation to the commissioner plan towards eradicating environmental pollution in lagos state and in nigeria as a whole,i want to eencourage the commissioner to go ahead with this plane and handle it with utmost commitment because without that it would just be said but nothing would preceeds it.environmental pollution have posed to be constant all over the years all over the world without them seeing sollution to it.indeed,it is a challenge to you;mr commissioner to take lagos and nigeria to another level of absolute sanity.i will love to receive latest information on the steps of the government on environmental pollution.thanks,biodun ogunniran lagos