The Managing Director/CEO of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Ibrahim Odumboni, has warned residents against turning abandoned properties to dumpsites, or using waste to reclaim lands for future uses.
Odumboni who spoke through a release from the Authority at Ijora-Olopa, noted that both illegal practices constituted environmental offences, punishable by outright forfeiture of such properties and prosecution of violators.
According to him, “LAWMA is issuing a strong warning that people should stop dumping refuse in abandoned properties. They should also desist from using waste to reclaim lands for the purpose of building houses. Anyone caught in those illegal practices will be made to face the wrath of the law, while such properties will be instantly confiscated by government.
“We have said this many times but some residents are adamant. I am restating again that anyone caught in the act will be prosecuted, as our enforcement teams have been effectively mobilised to do the needful in this regard”, he stressed.
The LAWMA helmsman further advised those involved in waste recycling, to do their business in secured spaces, that would not constitute environmental nuisance or attract reckless waste dumping by passers-by.
“A situation where people who don’t want to pay for PSP services, hide under the guise of recycling to dump their waste and discarded materials at uncompleted and abandoned buildings, will not be tolerated by the Authority. This nefarious act has turned such locations into breeding grounds for not only pests and diseases but also criminals”, he said.
Odumboni further reiterated that LAWMA had working collaboration with several government agencies including the MVAA and Neighbourhood Watch, to track waste migration and apprehend offenders, through timestamp cameras, in any part of the state.
He reminded residents that the easy way out was for them to acquire waste bins for their properties and patronise assigned PSP operators, adding that the prosecution of tenements without waste bins would begin in January next year.
Kadiri Folashade (Mrs.) Director, Public Affairs 05/11/2022
Nigerian Bottling Company Ltd Stakeholders Forum 2022
During his goodwill session, he emphasised on the need for positive environmental role model behaviours amongst packaging Companies and they were also tasked to jointly protect the Environment we all cherish by doing more.
He also appreciated NBC for their contributions to the growth of recycling in Lagos. Whilst much is still expected from them and other producers in terms of advocacy, campaigns and recovery of packaging materials once the contents are consumed. Together we can rid plastic pollution in our immediate environment. ? for a consistently cleaner Lagos.
LAWMA Marks 3rd Anniversary of Lagos Recycle Initiative …stresses use of PAKAM app
Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has celebrated the 3rd anniversary of the Lagos Recycle Initiative, launched three years ago, to introduce waste sorting at source for recycling purposes, to tackle the challenge of plastic pollution, as well as create jobs for teeming residents.
The event, organised by Food & Beverage Recycling Alliance and Lagos Recyclers Association, in conjunction with LAWMA, took place at the agency’s Olusosun Resource Centre, Ojota, with various sectoral stakeholders in attendance.
In his address, the Managing Director/CEO of LAWMA, Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni, appreciated the governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for midwifing and supporting the recycling initiative, while also praising all the stakeholders partnering the Authority, to tackle plastic pollution in the state.
He noted that with the initiative, plastic materials have become valuable commodities, for economic gains through recycling, adding that the Authority was working with a private firm to establish a bottle-to-bottle recycling facility in Lagos very soon.
Odumboni called on residents to start waste segregation at the point of generation, to reduce the volume of waste going to the landfills, stressing that owning a waste bin would become mandatory for all tenements, from 1st October 2022.
According to him, “Start separating your waste from source, there is value in doing that. We are encouraging sorting of waste from source in all households. From the 1st of October this year, every household must own a waste bin. We will start placing abatement notices on houses and will start the full enforcement in January next year”.
Earlier in his welcome address, the executive director, Finance, Mr. Kunle Adebiyi, said the event marked the beginning of another milestone in the history of waste recycling in Lagos State, stressing the agency’s commitment to ensuring a positive impact on the environment through recycling.
He urged participants to embrace the recycling culture, adding that the value chain was huge and extensive, creating business opportunities for pickers, collectors, aggregators, off-takers, as well as recyclers.
In her remarks, the executive secretary of Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance (FBRA), Ms. Agharese Onaghise, restated the group’s commitment to collaborative partnership to achieve plastic-pollution free Lagos State.
The CEO of PAKAM Technology, Mr. Adeleye Odebunmi, in his presentation, unveiled the PAKAM app 2.0, an all-inclusive waste management software application that connects residents to recyclers, for prompt exchange and redemption of their recyclable items, in real-time.
He highlighted the features of the revamped app, encouraging households to key into the opportunities presented by the seamless technology, to make money and tackle waste management challenges in the state.
Goodwill messages were taken from critical stakeholders like the Waste Pickers Association and others.
Folashade Kadiri (Mrs.) Director, Public Affairs 09/09/2022
Residents of Lekki and Ibeju Lekki Local Councils, have been advised to acquire waste bins, for the containerization of their waste, pending evacuation by the PSP operators.
The advice came from the Managing Director/CEO of the Lagos Waste Management Authority, (LAWMA), Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni, during a stakeholders’ meeting held respectively, at the secretariats of the councils.
Odumboni who was represented by LAWMA’s Executive Director of Finance, Mr. Kunle Adebiyi, noted that a major cause of waste migration and indiscriminate disposal, was the non-availability of bins in most homes, warning that abatement notices would soon be served on defaulting homes while prosecution would follow early next year.
According to him, “Ownership of waste bins is a must for all homes and defaulters will soon get abatement notices, to be followed later by prosecution from January next year”.
The LAWMA helmsman also appealed to residents to change their attitude, as recyclable waste was a source of income, urging them to cultivate the habit of waste sorting from source, to reduce the volume of waste going to the landfills.
He said, “We have a mandate to visit all the 57 Local Governments and Local Council Development Area of the State, and that is why we have come to your community, to sensitize and enlighten you on the importance of proper waste management. Effective waste management in your community can help prevent the spread of diseases such as cholera, typhoid, lassa fever e.t.c. in your environment, hence, the need to have a bin in your homes, to shut out rodents getting in contact with your waste, and also to aid easy evacuation by PSP operators”.
Odumboni also charged the council to mobilize the youths in their communities for local policing, to monitor black spots and apprehend defaulters caught dumping waste indiscriminately.
He said, “I implore you to adopt the idea of mobilizing the youths in your communities to police black spots and apprehend violators, caught dumping waste indiscriminately in the environment. Also, there is value in those items we dispose in our homes, such as cans, papers, cartons, pet bottles, glass etc. Ensure you sort your waste properly before disposal and make use of the PAKAM APP to request for the pick-up of recyclables”.
In his welcome address, the Executive Chairman of Ibeju Lekki Local Government, Hon. Sesan Olowa, commended the effort of the Authority toward ensuring a cleaner environment, especially on the road medians, adding that the stakeholders’ meeting would bring a mutually rewarding benefit.
“I got the idea of Cleaner Lagos from LAWMA and decided to replicate it in Ibeju Lekki. So far, we have employed about 300 sweepers and 30 gardeners, who help in keeping our environment clean. Also, I have mobilized youth in Ibeju Lekki to police black spots and arrest violators caught dumping waste indiscriminately. These youths were specially trained by LAWMA, on waste policing and arrest of violators”, he said.
He added that the taskforce has been effective and defaulters are being arrested and fined appropriately.
His counterpart in Lekki Local Council Development Area, Hon. Bamidele Kasali in his remarks, commended the authority for ensuring a livable environment urging members of his community to appreciate the services of LAWMA, by patronizing assigned PSP operators, and also paying their waste bills promptly.
“I believe your visit to our community will be of benefit to us. I commend the efforts LAWMA has put in place to ensure our environment is always clean. I also appeal to the members of the community to reciprocate the services of LAWMA, by ensuring that they pay their waste bills promptly”, he said.
In attendance were senior council functionaries, traditional rulers and senior LAWMA staff including, AGM Performance Management, Mrs. Bimbo Opayemi; District Head West II, Mrs. Tawa Oyekanmi; and District Head East II, Mrs. Bola Adewunmi, among others.
Folashade Kadiri (Mrs.) Director, Public Affairs LAWMA
The Managing Director/CEO of Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni, has said that the agency was working on the creation of Transfer Loading Stations (TLS), in all the local government areas of the state, for fast and smooth evacuation of waste around the metropolis.
He also said that innovative strategies had been put in place to rejig the operational capability of the agency, for maximum efficiency.
The Managing Director/CEO of LAWMA, Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni, who said this at a media parley, at the Authority’s headquarters, noted that the event provided a platform for the agency to inform the public on efforts at tackling the daunting waste challenge in Lagos.
He highlighted the various gains made in the area of establishing environmental sustainability and clearing backlogs of waste generated in the metropolis, adding that the Authority was working assiduously to resolve prevalent challenges, through on-going day and night operations.
Odumboni noted that the Authority, through the support of the state government, had completed the rehabilitation of landfills in the state, to shorten turn-around time, for refuse evacuation and disposal, by waste collection trucks across the state.
“I can confirm to you that through the support of the state government, we have rehabilitated landfills in the state, to facilitate seamless waste evacuation and disposal. PSP trucks can now dump their wastes at the landfills without any hindrance. The impact of this development will be felt in the metropolis within five to seven days,” he said.
The LAWMA boss said the Authority was working with PSP operators to resolve some of the issues affecting their operation, especially the price of diesel, which rose by over 100% within the current year, adding that most of their operational vehicles run on diesel.
“One of the challenges we had was the rise in the cost of operation. We estimate by now that there are over 1,000 PSP trucks in Lagos and LAWMA has over 150 supporting trucks. Most of these trucks make use of diesel to operate, and the rise in the cost of diesel greatly affected the operations of PSPs in the state. Through the support of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, we will be having additional subsidy for PSP operators in areas where we have such challenges”, he stated.
He said the Authority would work with Community Development Associations (CDAs) and Community Development Committees (CDCs), as well as PSP operators, to review waste management charges in the state, in line with the present economic reality, adding that there would be wide consultation before the new tariff regime.
“The current economic reality in the country has made it necessary for price increase in waste management charges. To this effect, we will be increasing waste bills by 50%. We will also work with CDAs/CDCs and the PSPs, to review the charges and ensure proper implementation of the new tariff”, he noted.
He appealed to residents to procure bins to containerise their waste, noting that owning a bin would go a long way in tackling the problem of indiscriminate waste disposal, adding that it is mandatory for all tenements in the state to have a container for storage of their waste.
“Majority of households don’t have a bin, we continue to appeal to residents to procure waste bins to containerise their waste, for temporary storage, before evacuation by assigned PSP operators. It’s important for us all to have a bin of some sort. Let us teach our kids how better to behave. It’s mandatory for you as a household to have a bin. From the 1st of October, if you don’t have a bin, you can be prosecuted”, he stated.
He reiterated the ban on cart pushing, adding that the surge in waste dumping on roads and other unauthorised locations, resulted from people’s patronage of cart pushers, who dump waste indiscriminately in the metropolis, adding that the agency would integrate willing cart pushers into the state’s waste management system.
The LAWMA helsman hinted of imminent establishment of a “bottle-to-bottle” recycling centre, in partnership with a private company who would source their raw materials from the plastic waste generated across the metropolis, emphasising that Lagos would soon become the hub of recycling in West Africa.
He further said that the agency planned to set up 30 recycling centres across the state, by the end of the year, to boost the Lagos recycling initiative, which apart from its economic benefits, would mitigate the challenge of plastic pollution.
The president of Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria (AWAMN), Mr. David Oriyomi, said the price of diesel negatively affected their operation, but thanked the governor for the subsidy offered to PSP operators, stating the need for a review of service charges, in line with current economic reality.
Michael Joseph Assistant Director, Public Affairs, LAWMA
The Managing Director/CEO, Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni led senior staff of LAWMA, to the clean-up and adoption of Oniru Beach, Victoria Island, Lagos, by Sterling One Foundation.
The event was organized by the Foundation and HRM Abisogun II Foundation (HAIIF), to commemorate the 2022 Global Recycling Day, themed: “Recycling Fraternity”.
Speaking to the press on the sidelines, the LAWMA boss charged individuals and corporate organizations, to take responsibility for the environment through waste sorting at source and not wait for government, to drive the effort towards a cleaner environment.
He further urged residents and beach users, to come together and make a difference, by leaving an enduring legacy of people-friendly environment, for improved living and economic prosperity, adding that beach clean-up was the first step in ensuring that coastal areas were clean.
In her address, the convener of the event, Mrs. Olapeju Ibekwe, disclosed that in the last one year, Sterling One Foundation had adopted four beaches including Alpha, Eleko, Lafiaji and Ibereko. The objective, according to her, was to care for life outside water and under water, as well as empower people through the recycling value chain.
Chief Olumide Oniru, the Olopon of Iruland, who represented the His Royal Majesty, Oba Omogbolahan Lawal, Abisogun II, the Oniru of Iru Land, disclosed that no less than 1,000 trees had been planted around the kingdom in recent times, adding that youths had been recruited as environmental champions, to raise awareness on the prevention of plastic pollution.
The permanent secretary of the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Dr. Bolaji Gaji, who represented the commissioner, Mr. Tunji Bello, stressed that the ministry had adopted single use plastic policy, urging Lagosians to commit to waste sorting at source, to limit plastic pollution.
The gathering included many dignitaries, including the commissioner for Tourism, Arts & Culture, Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf; General Manager LASEPA, Dr. Dolapo Fasawe; General Manager LASWA, Mr. Damilola Emmanuel; managing director of Waste Exchange Limited, Mr. Taiwo Adewole and senior LAWM Staff.
Folashade Kadiri Director, Public Affairs 19th March, 2022
The Managing Director/CEO, Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni, has urged residents of the Mainland Local Government and Yaba LCDA, to embrace the culture of waste sorting at source, to reduce pressure on landfills around the state.
Odumboni said this at a meeting with solid waste management stakeholders in those councils, comprising market leaders, artisans and representatives of CDAs/CDCs, where he enjoined them to look inwards for local solutions to tackle waste management challenges, including active engagement of youths for waste policing in the area.
The participants spoke freely on environmental challenges in their various domains, as the LAWMA boss responded to the issues raised.
Hon. Nurudeen Aileru who represented Yaba LCDA Chairman, commended LAWMA for the spirited effort at achieving a clean city, promising that the councils would play their parts, towards achieving a sustainable environment.
Alhaja Kaosara Adebayo, Iyaloja Asejere Market, Oyingbo, complained about the epileptic performance of PSP operators, while also suggesting the creation of the equivalent of PSPs for Lagos waterways.
Also speaking, the Yaba LCDA House Leader, Hon. Solomon Gbinigie, suggested the setting up of a whatsapp platform for stakeholders in the councils, for quick resolution of waste management issues.
It was the 9th stakeholders’ meeting, organised by LAWMA, and planned to cover the 57 local governments and LCDAs of the state. Some of the councils already covered include: Apapa, Ajeromi/Ifelodun, Ikorodu West, Mushin, Ijako Ijaiye/Ojokoro and others.
Other prominent personalities at the meeting include LAWMA’s Executive Director, Finance, Mr. Kunle Adebiyi; LAWMA’s CTO, Dr. Olorunwa Tijani; CDC Mainland chairman, Alhaji Tajudeen Quadri; the council leader, Hon. Solomon Gbinigie; and LAWMA staff, among others.
Folashade Kadiri Director, Public Affairs LAWMA Thursday, 3rd March 2022
The Managing Director/CEO, Lagos Waste Management Authority, Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni, addressing participants at the Lagos Mainland LG and Yaba LCDA stakeholders’ meeting on solid waste management, held at Yaba secretariat, on Thursday, 3rd March, 2022.Rep of Chairman of Yaba LCDA, Hon. Bolanle Aileru giving his welcome remarks at Lagos Mainland LG and Yaba LCDA stakeholders’ meeting on solid waste management, held at the Yaba secretariat, on Thursday, 3rd March, 2022.Iyaloja, Oyingbo & Mainland Markets, Alhaja Sikiratu Ajide, during the Q & A session, at the Lagos Mainland LG and Yaba LCDA’s stakeholders’ meeting on solid waste management, held at Yaba secretariat, on Thursday, 3rd March, 2022Council majority leader, Hon. Solomon Gbinigie giving a short remarks at Lagos Mainland LG and Yaba LCDA stakeholders’ meeting on solid waste management, held at the Yaba secretariat, on Thursday, 3rd March, 2022.CDC Mainland chairman, Alhaji Tajudeen Quadri giving a short remarks at Lagos Mainland LG and Yaba LCDA stakeholders’ meeting on solid waste management, held at the Yaba secretariat, on Thursday, 3rd March, 2022.CDA Sango Akinlagun chairman, Mr. Adisa Taiwo during the Q & A session, at the Lagos Mainland LG and Yaba LCDA’s stakeholders’ meeting on solid waste management, held at Yaba secretariat, on Thursday, 3rd March, 2022The Managing Director/CEO, Lagos Waste Management Authority, Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni (m); rep. of chairman, Yaba LCDA, Hon. Nurudeen Bolanle Aileru (3rd left); LAWMA’s Executive Director, Finance, Mr. Kunle Adebiyi(2nd left); CDC Mainland chairman, Alhaji Tajudeen Quadri (L); AGM. Central District, Mr. Kemi Alao (3rd right); AGM Performance Management, Mrs. Tawa Oyekanmi (2nd right); and Head, Lagos Mainland Environmental Services, Mrs. Sola Amokunmosa (r), during Lagos Mainland LG and Yaba LCDA stakeholders’ meeting on solid waste management, held at Yaba secretariat, on Thursday, 3rd March, 2022.Cross sections of participants at the Lagos Mainland LG and Yaba LCDA’s stakeholders’ meeting on solid waste management, held at Yaba secretariat, on Thursday, 3rd March, 2022.The Managing Director/CEO, Lagos Waste Management Authority, Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni (r) and rep. of chairman, Yaba LCDA, Hon. Nurudeen Bolanle Aileru (L), during Lagos Mainland LG and Yaba LCDA stakeholders’ meeting on solid waste management, held at Yaba secretariat, on Thursday, 3rd March, 2022.
