,,,.gives Mechanics under marine beach Bridge 48 hours ultimatum to vacate
Lagos State Government, in collaboration with the officers and men of the Nigerian Navy under the Western Naval Command, on Saturday, embarked on the clean-up of Apapa and its environment with an affirmation that the exercise is a synergy that has come to stay.
Speaking with the journalists after the exercise which extended to Mobil road and Marine Beach, the Special Adviser on the Environment, Engr. Kunle Rotimi-Akodu said the quest to clean up Apapa and its environment is a beautiful marriage between Lagos State and the Navy authorities. He added that it is an initiative that would make a meaningful impact in the affected areas by improving the well being of the residents.
He said the team had gone round some places in the area, such as the motor parks, mechanic workshops and observed there are a lot of environmental infractions in the area that the State and Navy are determined to restore sanity to.
He said the motor boys that sleep in the trucks in motor parks, as well traders on the roads and mechanics around are responsible for messing up the area, stressing that the partnershing is a positive development and it would be sustained.
Rotimi-Akodu said the team also addressed some of the motor boys, their drivers, traders and mechanics to enlighten them on the importance of the exercise, informing that operators of the mechanic workshops under the Marine Beach Bridge were given 48 hours ultimatum to vacate the area.
The SA noted that the state government does not permit motor boys to be sleeping in the parks or traders selling alcohol on the roads/parks and shanties because they run afoul of the provisions of the State Environmental Sanitation laws.
He said the clean-up exercise would continue and get to all parts of the State, calling on stakeholders to collaborate with the government, maintaining that the collaboration is essential as Government efforts alone can not suffice for ensuring a sustainable environment.
Also speaking, the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Micheal Oamen said the exercise is in line with what the Military authorities call civil military engagement as such the military is part and parcel of this initiative.
He said the initiative is a very beautiful one that would rid Apapa and environs of all forms of environmental infractions, saying since the Navy is a stakeholder in the area, men of the Western Command have all come out to partner with the relevant Lagos State Government Environmental agencies to ensure that Apapa is clean.
He said in every community that the Navy operates in, they take ownership and Apapa has been the home of the naval base because the Navy started from there as such the Naval officers are happy to collaborate with the state government on the exercise.
Also speaking, the Chairman of Apapa Local Government Area, Honourable Idowu Senbanjo expressed great appreciation to the Lagos State Government and the Navy for the initiative, adding that Apapa Local government is always ready to render its support to such cause.
The Special Adviser was accompanied by the Permanent Secretaries, Office of Environmental Services, Dr. Gaji Omobolaji; Office of Drainage Services Engr. Mahamood Adegbite; MD of LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegeshin; KAI Corps Marshal, Major Olatubosun Cole (Rtd); GM of LASWMO, Engr. Adefemi Afolabi and other Directors from the Ministry and its Agencies.
Places visited/cleaned up during the exercise, which started on Friday, included Mobil Road, Marine Beach Under Bridge and environs where shanties were pulled down and carted away with LAWMA trucks.