The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) says it has dislodged scavengers from landfills as a precautionary measure against further spread of coronavirus and other dangerous diseases.
LAWMA Spokesman, Kayode Akinleye, said in a statement that the agency swooped on the dump sites and chased away the scavengers who prowl the sites for valuable items.
According to the statement, LAWMA Chief Operating Officer, Ibrahim Odumboni, said the action was necessitated by the need to comply with the governor’s directive for the prevention of coronavirus.
Odumboni said Gov. Babajide Sanwoolu had directed that all necessary steps be taken to prevent the spread of coronavirus and other dangerous diseases in the state.
He said that the prevailing situation required that no opportunity should be created for the virus to spread further through any outlet.
According to him, this action is a precautionary measure to prevent any possible hazard.
“We know that there are a couple of scavengers on the landfills and the nature of their work exposes them to danger, and we do not want a situation where a problem breaks out and begins to go around the city.
“It is a pro-active step to prevent any untoward development,” Odumboni said in the statement.
He said further that LAWMA would continue to work round the clock to ensure clean homes and environment, which are highly essential to curbing the further spread of COVID-19 and other dangerous diseases.
Odumboni said that the Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators would be operating throughout the sit-at-home period to ensure that waste is promptly evacuated and properly disposed.
He, however, urged everyone to properly sort their waste and put them into containers for easy evacuation and disposal by assigned PSP operators.
By Aisha Cole
