Wale JAGUN & Oyinlola PELUMI
Hon. Saka Solaja Nurudeen, Member, Lagos State House of Assembly representing the Ikorodu Constituency II , on Wednesday, September 11, 2019, engaged leaders and residents in his domain.
The event was the Stakeholders’ Meeting being held by the Lagos State House of Assembly across the 40 Constituencies in the state annually. The theme for this year’s parley was, “Environmental Challenges: Community engagement to facilitate lasting solutions “.
The Ikorodu Constituency II phase of the parley , which, like others that were held simultaneously across the state, was held primarily to engage the people in finding lasting solutions to the environmental menace and it took place at the Admos Hotel & Suites, Ebute Ajebo Road, Imota, Lagos.
Hon. Saka Solaja , in his keynote address , stated that the purpose and rationale behind the constituency stakeholders’ meeting is to promote and enhance effective cordial relationship interaction between the legislators and the constituents through engagement and communication with the constituents in the art of governance and ensuring that their inputs count in the affairs of the state.
“We engage our constituents annually to deliberate on issues affecting our general well-being and to rub minds on issues of concern and of greater progress to our state and indeed to educate citizens on Government policies and activities as well as take your complaints and suggestions back to the Executive arm of Government for necessary actions.
He stated that based on past meetings, the Lagos Assembly has been able to understand some of the people’s socio-economic and infrastructural challenges.
Speaking on the theme of the parley, Hon. Solaja stated that the 9th Assembly decided on the topic to address issues of environmental challenges.
“As a way forward, my good self, together with the leadership of the Lagos State House of Assembly, have decided this time to present and address issues of environmental challenges.
“As a foremost State Legislature that takes the welfare of its people as paramount and diligent in its primary responsibilities , the Assembly recently deliberated extensively at its Plenary Session on Tuesday, 23rd July, 2019 , on the increasing and threatening environmental issues in the State including flooding, drainage related matters and the need to proffer necessary solutions.
“We , thereafter, set up an ad hoc committee which has gone round the State on oversight of existing contracts in respect of our channels and drainages in the State.
He added that the 2019 edition of the annual meeting is dedicated to engaging residents on the challenges of environmental issues and proffering solutions together.
In his response to remarks and complaints by the residents, Hon. Solaja assured that the issue with the state of inner roads and security situations would be addressed.
Mr Abdul Fatai Lasisi, Chairman, Ikorodu Division Resource Development Group, stated that he was delighted at the topic because it created platform to discuss the challenges facing the environment.
He called for proper management of the environment so as not to put people’s lives at risk while adding that air pollution poses serious challenges to the people.
Royal fathers, political leaders and other participants at the Imota venue of the annual meeting spoke on challenges of bad roads in the division, indiscrimate dumping of refuse, lack of infrastructures and the need for more government presence.
Chief Tele Oduloye presented a proposal by the Eminent Persons of Ikorodu Division (EPID) to Hon. Solaja at the meeting.
Among various issues and concerns raised by participants were : Curbing of indiscriminate dumping of refuse on the streets, drainages and major highways in the state, Enlightenment of constituents on the need to properly dispose their waste,
Creating awareness in communities across the state on the hazardous impacts of environmental challenges, the need for rehabilitation of most roads in the constituency, making Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and the Private Service Providers (PSP) in the waste management service in the state more responsive and effective in carting away refuse among others.
Others at the meeting were His Royal Majesties, Oba Ajibade Bakare Agoro, the Ranodu of Imota, Oba Semiudeen Kasali, the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, Oba Richard Ogunsanya, the Olubeshe of Ibeshe, Oba Akeem Oyebo, the Obateru of Egbin and High Chief Musediq Alliu, Regent Of Ijede.
Also present were the three council chairmen and councilors in the constituency.
