The Association of Wastes Managers (AWAM) of Nigeria has cautioned residents of Lagos state to desist from activities that militates the risk of drains blockage to avoid awesome flood experience during this year’s raining season.
Chairman of the Association, MrOlabode Coker, blamed most of the environmental challenges on the poor waste management attitude by residents which has affected numerous drains in the state.
‘’It is disheartening that a day or two after gutters and the drainage are cleared, you discover refuse dumped again in them,’’ he lamented. ‘’The state government has gone a long way in trying to open up the drainage in some local government areas, but the efforts are thwarted by residents’ refusal to properly dispose their wastes.’’
The manager said that most of the refuse cleared from the gutters were heavy materials that were directly blocking water from flowing to the main drains and the canals.
According to him, the state alone cannot tackle the issue of flooding caused by human beings without the assistance of residents.
Coker said that the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and the state government had set up a task force to arrest, prosecute and impose fines on anyone disposing refuse wrongly.
‘’People are yet to understand the damage that excessive flooding can cause. The state is determined to eradicate flooding and its effects on both human lives and property,” he said.