The Lagos State government’s decision to prosecute the parents of the children who dumped refuse in the drainage at Olumo street, Pipeline, Aboru, has generated mixed reactions from Lagosians.
While some commended the government for taking action on the offenders, others berated the state government for not providing good access road to the street.
The state government, in a statement on its Facebook page on Sunday, said “The parents of these children would be prosecuted according to the law because this attitude and several others that have gone unnoticed are contributory factors to flooding issue being experienced in some quarters across the State.”
The government urged Lagosians to be its watch-dogs by “Kindly reporting unfriendly attitudes to the State Government for proper action.”
But, the statement titled “Justice served on some Aboru residents,” attracted a flurry of responses ranging from commendation to condemnation.
One commentator by name Yushau Al ameen Abu bilal said “This is very good and commendable, it will serve as a deterrent to others who are in such act.”
Luqman Adekunle in his comment said “This would serve as a deterrent to others who are also in the same habit. We must stop abusing our environment!”
However, Salau Zakariyahu queried the propriety of the arrest of the residents, accusing Lagos Waste Management Authority, LAWMA, of negligence of duty.
“How many street drainages have LAWMA officials come out to clean since years to convince us of their readiness to fight indiscriminate dropping off waste in drainages. Just check the background and see the road plus the badly constructed drainage they were even arresting people about. Shamelessness!” he said.
One Raymond Abdurahman Adeiza, who appears to be a resident of Aboru said the government action was needful but the approach was wrong.
“Lagos State Government should as a matter of urgency provides PSP/LAWMA truck to our various street in Aboru/Ishaga(Agbelekale) because we don’t have a means of disposing our refuses.
“Please, this is very important so that other people will stop the act of bombarding the drainage with yamayama …..”
Adepegba Abiola also commended the government but added that “Lagos State Government should also do the needful as some of the street/road in Aboru are not motorable for LAWMA trucks. How do you want them to dispose their wastes? State Government should find solutions to waste disposal in such areas.”
Commenting in similar vein, Sammy Soundwell said “You guys should fix the road leading to their homes and let Lawma truck have access to the area to pick up waste. Somebody should be arrested for bad roads too. You lead by example.”
Adebayo Rotimi, on his part, asked “who should we arrest for the bad road In the picture.?
Olushola Owoeye, who also commended the government, said “Good. And to those who dont like this development, I hope one day you witness flooding to know how damaging it is. Funny enough, its these same people who would condemn the government when flooding happens.”
Road infrastructure in this axis of Aboru is generally bad. From Olumo, Fadeyemi, Olohunsogo, Alabede to Anuoluwapo, Ogo Oluwa, Raji Rasaki, Pipeline road, Jejeniwa and Community road, it’s a tale of dilapidation all over.
The PSP/LAWMA trucks only stay on the main road (Amoke Alasela) whenever they visit the communities for waste evacuation.
It is an established fact that the inner roads are not accessible, which, some say, could be a justification for those dumping refuse in the drainage.
However, other residents counter this assertion saying that it is highly inappropriate as the whole communities bear the devastating effect in the long run.
“As it is good to punish offenders, government should be ashamed of coming to this area because this is a forgotten area in Lagos State. No single development. No roads, no good water, no stable power, no bank and so on. These offenders should only be given warning and let’s government provide motorable roads for lawma truck passage,” a resident, Kolawole Adegbuyi said.
Speaking on the development, the Managing Director ofLAWMA, Muyiwa Gbadegesin, said that under no circumstances should anyone dump refuse in drainage channels, medians, lagoons or any other unauthorised outlets.
He, therefore, advised residents to promptly contact the Authority using the toll-free line 07080601020, for complaints and relevant information.
