Wale Jagun
The Lagos State Government has called on private organisations and residents to adopt streets and communities as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to enhance environmental cleanliness across Lagos State.
The Managing Director/CEO of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, made the call while he was a guest on the Lagos Television “The Conversation” and Channels TV’s “Sunrise” programmes
Dr. Gbadegesin, emphasised the importance of community involvement in maintaining sanitation, urging businesses and individuals to play a more active role in the cleanliness of their immediate environments.
“Adopting a street or community is an excellent way for organisations to contribute meaningfully to the city’s cleanliness efforts. It goes beyond just placing bins; it’s about taking responsibility for the cleanliness and maintenance of entire neighbourhoods. This initiative will also serve as a strong CSR strategy, benefiting both the environment and the organisations involved”, Dr. Gbadegesin explained.
Speaking further, he linked the recent cholera outbreak to poor environmental practices such as open defecation and illegal waste disposal, stressing that these could be mitigated through sustained community sanitation efforts. He added, “Sanitation should be a daily habit, ingrained in our culture, and this is what we should be teaching our children”.
Commenting on the ongoing community clean-up campaign by LAWMA and the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, he said, “What we are doing right now is sensitisation, and yes, the monthly sanitation exercise is coming back. We are going from community to community, engaging with local stakeholders, and addressing residents’ challenges”.
The LAWMA boss said that the Authority was moving on with the “Adopt a Bin” programme, aimed at encouraging households to containerised their waste effectively.
“The new LAWMA smart bins are revolutionising household waste management. We aim for every home to have its own bin, making it easier for residents to properly contain their waste. To make this accessible, we have introduced a 24-month instalment plan. What sets these bins apart is their smart technology: “Each bin is equipped with an RFID tag and geolocation capabilities. This allows us to track when bins are empty, ensuring efficient service from our operators”, he stressed.
Gbadegesin also highlighted the state government’s collaboration with the private sector to enhance waste disposal facilities, including a memorandum of understanding with Jospong Group to build material recovery facilities and modern landfills in Lagos, adding that LAWMA was also working with local government authorities to establish community recycling centres, to provide residents with dedicated spaces to dispose of recyclables and receive incentives.
On the LAWMA Academy, he said, “We are teaching the next generation about the value of recycling and the importance of maintaining a clean environment. Currently, we have an ongoing summer school that will last for a month, and in the next few months, we are going to open a portal for online classes with certification on the LAWMA Academy website.”
He reaffirmed LAWMA’s commitment to improving the welfare of street sweepers, adding that the agency was implementing health insurance and skill development programmes for its sweepers.
