Korede Abdullah in Lagos
In a renewed effort to achieve a cleaner and more sustainable Lagos, the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and the Environmental Health Officers Association of Nigeria (EHOAN), Lagos State Chapter, have agreed to form a joint task force.
This decision was announced on Tuesday during a courtesy visit by EHOAN officials to LAWMA headquarters in Ijora Olopa, where LAWMA’s Managing Director/CEO, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, emphasized the critical role of environmental health officers.
“Environmental health officers are the bedrock of what we do in LAWMA. We both directly impact public health,” he said, applauding their grassroots contributions to public hygiene.
Dr. Gbadegesin highlighted several ongoing initiatives, including the shift from landfills to transfer loading stations, material recovery facilities across local councils, and advancements in waste-to-energy solutions.
He also reported intensified enforcement efforts, revealing that 13 markets were recently shut down for environmental infractions. In response, President of EHOAN’s Lagos Chapter, Dr. Cyril Akinyele Babasope, stressed the need for greater collaboration.
“As partners, we can form joint task forces to identify problem areas and implement lasting solutions,” he stated, advocating for better data access and officer training to strengthen waste management efforts.
Expressing concern over rampant illegal dumping on road medians and public areas, Babasope called for more environmental health officers to enhance surveillance and enforcement.
Supporting this, the National President of EHOAN, Dr. Samuel Akingbeyin, praised LAWMA’s progress but urged improved data sharing for better efficiency.
Dr. Gbadegesin responded with assurances, noting the existence of LAWMA’s Waste Management Research and Policy Development Department and promising to train and integrate more health officers, signaling a robust path forward in Lagos’s environmental management strategy.
