Lagos State Transport Union Leaders on Wednesday met State Government officials, pledging their commitment and support for the re-introduced environment sanitation exercise with a declaration that no commercial vehicle will load at the various parks and garages between the hours of 6.30am and 8.30am on the last Saturday of every month.
Giving the commitment during a strategic meeting presided over by the State Commissioners for the Environment and Water Resources Tokunbo Wahab and Transportation, Mr Oluwaseun Osiyemi, the National Union of Road Transport Workers NURTW) represented by the State Secretary, Comrade Usman Teslim gave a total commitment to the success of the exercise.
He added that all transporters within the union will ensure that the 6.30am to 8.30am belt is devoted to cleaning their homes and sorrounding before resuming commercial activities.
He added that NURTW will also form task forces within its various units to enforce the decision which is for the betterment of all residents of residents.
He explained that part of the laws guiding the operation of NURTW states that in any state or local government where it operates, the union is expected to support the policy pronouncements of the government of the day.
He maintained that the culture of placing waste bins in public buses is still in existence, saying this assist commuters to disposed their waste appropriately.
Also echoing the resolve, the State Chairman of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria RTEAN) Comr Shamsudeen Ajala represented by the Deputy State Secretary, Comrade Kaojue Abolaji said RTEAN will reach out to all its affiliate unions and branches to ensure that on every last Saturday of the month, all their vehicles will only get on to the road to pick passengers after the 8.30am hour.
Speaking earlier on why the strategic meeting has become imperative, the State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources Tokunbo Wahab reiterated that the present Administration of Babajide Sanwo-Olu is at the forefront of the quest to achieve a cleaner, flood free and sustainable environment hence the need for the collaboration of stakeholders.
Wahab said a large number of the population in Lagos rely on public transportation (road and Water) to move from one point to the other stressing that the informal sector carries over 70% of operators hence the need to seek their buy in.
“If we all are in agreement with Government that we want the state to be cleaner and we want this initiative to be successful then we must all cooperate to ensure its Success” he said.
The Commissioner mentioned that the Sanitation initiative had already been in place every Thursday between the hours of 7am and 10am in Markets across Lagos where traders participate to clean their markets saying that this should be replicated in our homes.
He charged the leadership of the Unions to communicate its resolution to their counterparts in neighboring states to cultivate their compliance and cooperation towards the exercise.
He enjoined stakeholders in the transport sector to ensure that they educate commuters in their parks about the dangers of improper waste disposal, disposing wastes on open spaces, on the roads, median, drainages and canals amongst others.
Also speaking, Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi sought the support of the Transport operators in the informal sector saying that the formal Sector Operators should ensure the success of the monthly sanitation exercise by participating.
He urged the Chairmen and members of the Transport Unions to Collaborate with State Government, own the initiative and ensure adherence in order to ensure cleanliness and good Sanitation Practices.
Present at the meeting were the Special Adviser on The Environment, Engr. Olakunle Rotimi- Akodu, Permanent Secretary Office of Drainage Services, Engr Mahamood Adegbite, Chairman Task Force on Special and Environmental Offences, CSP Adetayo Akerele and representatives of LAMATA, LASTMA, Lagos State Parking Authority, Lagos State Waterways Authority, Lagos State Ferry Service and the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps and heads of agencies under the environment family
