By Edu Abade
Civil society groups including the Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI), Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) and Centre for Anti-corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL) have demanded a more robust engagement with citizens in the implementation of environmental and other laws in Lagos State.
Speaking at a monthly stakeholders’ roundtable in Lagos on Thursday, March 7, 2024, Executive Director of RDI, Philip Jakpor, specifically canvassed better synergy between the Lagos State government and citizens in the initiation and implementation of people-friendly environment policies.
Jakpor made the call at the roundtable on public policy making and execution organised by CDHR in collaboration with CACOL at the Rights House, Adeniyi Jones Avenue, Ikeja, with the theme: Lagos State Environmental Laws: Implications And Effect On Human And Socio-Economic Rights Of The People.
Civil society organisations, trade unions, the media and representatives of the Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, among others, attended the event, which served as an avenue to exchange ideas on the environmental laws in Lagos, especially the gaps in state and citizens engagement.
Jakpor, who said the state environmental policies still lacked human face, drew his conclusions from the eviction of citizens of the state from communities such as Otodogbame, the states’ water privatisation plans, as well as the systematic eviction of residents of Makoko.
He insisted that governments are the same all over the world and will never accede to the demands of citizens except they adopted ingenious strategies of compelling government to listen such as peaceful protests, legal options and constructive use of the media.
Also speaking, the Chief Legal Officer (CLO), Lagos State Waste Management Agency (LAWMA), Adeyemo Oluwabukola, stated that the illegal dumping of waste in the state is caused by the public’s unwillingness to pay for private sector partnerships and urged the public to educate one another on appropriate waste disposal.
“We have over 420 private sector waste collectors in Lagos. During former Governor Babatunde Fashola’s administration, we were all complying, but now we have refused to pay the Private Sector Participants (PSPs) and that is why we are disposing illegally, and it is what we give to the environment that it gives back. We appeal that we all enlighten our people about proper waste disposal,” the CLO stated.
Earlier in his address, the Lagos Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, said the Lagos government recognized the pivotal role the environment plays in shaping the quality of lives of citizens and the sustainability of communities in the state and across the country.
He also said the state government regularly engaged citizens and that the environment laws are designed to protect the health of citizens hence they will be enforced to the letter.
On his part, Dr. Debo Adeniran of CACOL, who declared the event open, said the convening was a platform for healthy exchange of ideas between the state and citizens and urged the Federal Government to adopt environment-friendly laws to ensure healthy living for all Nigerians.
