By Kazeem Ugbodaga
The Lagos State Government has lifted the restriction on human and vehicular movement on Saturday, to allow students, invigilators and other stakeholders participate effectively in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, organized by Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) expected to begin tomorrow.
Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Babatunde Adejare who announced this in Alausa, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria, however, added that the usual sanitation exercise would still be observed by residents in their homes.
The Commissioner said that it became imperative for the state government to waive the restriction order so as to not to jeopardize the future of the candidates whose counterparts in other parts of the federation will write the same examination.
“As a responsible and responsive government, we value the education of our children very dearly and therefore resolved to relax the order in the interest of the future leaders of tomorrow,” adejare added.
While still urging Lagosians to actively participate in this month’s sanitation exercise, despite the lifting of the restriction of movement order, the Commissioner advised that ‘we should concentrate on the cleaning of drains in our frontages as we are gradually approaching the rainy season.’’
He said that the issue of sanitation has become very critical, especially with the geometrically rising population of the state, thus making the regular clean-up necessary for a healthier, cleaner and Sustainable Environment.
“As we gradually approach the rainy season, the Commissioner enjoined Lagosians to shun acts that could contribute to flooding, noting that “people should not dump waste in unauthorized places like canals and drainage channels.
“Lagosians should not patronize cart pushers who end up dumping the wastes into canals and Lagoons. This is how we can all assist to make the state deflooding programme a success.’’
He urged all Lagosians to rise up and take sanitation of their environment as very important adding that “ this is one of the practical measures that can guarantee a flood-free Lagos.”.
Adejare disclosed that the state government had embarked on continuous clearing, maintenance and dredging of canals across the state to preempt the incidences of flooding.
He admonished Lagosians to bag their refuse properly to allow for easy collection and disposal to designated landfill sites by the Lagos Waste Management Authority, LAWMA and Pivate Sector Participation, PSP operators.
The commissioner also assured that LAWMA would deploy men and equipment to ensure quick evacuation of waste generated during the sanitation exercise.