Environmental violators ‘ll be prosecuted — Sanwo-Olu

GOVERNOR Bababjide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, yesterday, lamented the level of environmental sanitation in the state, warning that offenders will be prosecuted.

Governor Sanwo-Olu also directed relevant authorities, stakeholders, and residents to ensure the planting of over 20,000 trees in the next one year to mitigate the Climate Change effects.

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The governor said this during the flag-off of the environmental sanitation exercise campaign and the annual tree-planting events, held at Campus Square, and Lagos House, Marina, Lagos Island.

Speaking on the occasion, the governor called for the cooperation of all residents and stakeholders in making the exercise a success.

He said: “Cleanliness is next to Godliness. We can not fold our arms and see our environment debased. Our hospitals are full of patients due to our unhygienic environment caused by the carefree attitude of residents.

“From what we have seen during monitoring of the environment earlier in the morning, it is unacceptable the level of environmental nuisance such as indiscriminate dumping of refuse in canals, removal of manholes on the road being perpetrated by some undesirable elements.

“It is a shame that our people engage in this act, vandalising public utilities despite the government’s efforts and huge funding. These people do not deserve to be among us.

“The Ministry of the Environment will set up gangs that will be saddled with the task of addressing the situation while environmental offenders will face the full weight of the law if caught.

“The era of uncleanliness is over in Lagos, that’s why we are flagging off this sensitization, advocacy campaign today from Lagos Island. This must start from homes, schools, markets, and offices.

Government can not do it alone, we have to work together.

“It is our goal today to further educate residents on the need to take ownership of their environment and ensure that they continuously clean surroundings, and dispose of waste responsibly while acknowledging that we must sustain this as our contribution towards maintaining a sustainable environment.

“As a government, it is our collective responsibility that we develop strategic methods to improve the environment, ensure that it is flood and make it conducive for residents and this can be achieved through the continuous cleaning of the environment from time to time.”