Insecurity: LAWMA destroys over 400 carts

Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has destroyed more than 400 carts it seized from pushers, who are accustomed to dumping waste at unauthorised locations.

The Managing Director/CEO, Mr Ibrahim Odumboni, while speaking from his Ogudu’s office, said the exercise is necessary to weaken the ability of the cart pushers to return to business.

He added that the exercise will help to reduce the carts population defacing the cityscape. He noted that the activities of cart pushers in all parts of Lagos metropolis remain banned.

According to him, cart pushers pose a threat not only to the environmental sustainability but to the security of residents, noting that many cart pushers harbour dangerous weapons like knives, machetes and other weapons to perpetrate criminal activities.

He said: “Cart pushers are about the biggest threat to our effort at attaining environmental sustainability. We will not allow anyone or a group of persons to derail the ongoing efforts to make the environment better.

“Criminal elements have hidden under this guise to carry out heinous crimes. If there are no carts to push, they will get other jobs.

“They pose as much threat to the environment as to the security of the citizens. It will shock you to know that many of them keep weapons like knives, and machetes, among others in their carts to attack and dispossess unsuspecting persons when the opportunity presents itself.

“One of such cart pushers was tried and jailed last week, having been apprehended at Victoria Island, vandalising and stealing government’s iron rods. There have been many reported cases of theft of movable items from people’s compounds traced to them.”

The LAWMA chief revealed that opportunity was open for repentant cart-pushers, to step forward, get registered with LAWMA, be given proper orientation, and be trained as pickers and off-takers of recyclables, working hand in hand with other stakeholders in the waste management chain.

Odumboni maintained that the government was not interested in taking away their means of livelihood, which however has to be within the confines of the law.

He reaffirmed the agency’s total commitment to making the state’s city space an environment-friendly one, urging residents to join the authority’s quest for a cleaner Lagos by shunning improper waste disposal, paying their waste bills and patronising assigned PSP operators.

Also commenting, the president of the Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria, AWAMN, Mr David Oriyomi, lauded the government’s constant support for the association, promising a new era of fruitful collaboration with LAWMA.

Present were LAWMA’s Executive Director of Finance, Mr Kunle Adebiyi; Chief Technical Officer, Dr Olohunwa Tijani; Head, Enforcement Unit, Mr Idowu Sanni; and other stakeholders.