Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly have called on the state Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu to tackle the illegal activities of scavengers and manhole thieves by enforcing the relevant environmental laws in the State.
The call, which was made at Tuesday’s plenary – yesterday, January 21 – followed a motion moved by Gbolahan Yishawu, representing Eti-Osa 2 State Constituency.
Titled, “Call on the State Government to Curb the Activities of Scavengers and Manhole Theft in Lagos,” Yishawu lamented that the illegal waste sourcing by scavengers is damaging the environment, warning that the rate of manhole cover theft in the state has increased rapidly.
He emphasized the importance of manholes, noting that scavengers have destroyed a lot of state infrastructures and made the government spend more on their replacement.
He, therefore, called on the State government to act fast by enforcing all relevant environmental laws to prevent more damage to state infrastructure through the activities of the scavengers, stating that there are enough and adequate laws to curtail the illegal activities.
He also called on the information ministry and relevant agencies to educate and enlighten Lagosians on waste sourcing and sorting for recycling, even as he urged the state government to replace the various stolen manhole covers to avoid accidents.
He charged the state government to stop illegal sourcing of scrap materials, adding that the state should come up with whistler blowing strategies, as well as work with Community Development Associations (CDAs) to ensure that the scavengers do not operate at the grassroots.
He also called for the prosecution of any scavenger found stealing the manholes.
Also, Desmond Elliot, representing Surulere 1, commended Yishawu for the motion, and noted that manhole covers in Surulere have all been stolen by scavengers.
He called on the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAMWA) to register scavengers, waste sourcing operators and scrap dealers before they could operate in the state, suggesting that all illegal waste sourcing operators should be stopped in Lagos.
Corroborating Yishawu, Kehinde Joseph, representing Alimosho 1 said: “We have all the necessary laws to ensure that stealing of manhole cover does not occur in the state. The laws should be enforced effectively to curb the menace.”
Some other lawmakers contributed to the motion, with all of them calling on the government to live up to its bidding by enforcing all the relevant environmental laws of the state to arrest the ugly trend.
The Speaker of the House, Rt Hon Mojisola Meranda, in summing the members’ contributions, called on Lagosians to play the role of whistleblowers as the state government cannot handle it alone.
She called on the state government to sensitise Lagosians on the negative effects of the activities of scavengers, as well as educate residents on the difference between sourcing used products for recycling and stealing state’s infrastructure.
