Community Leaders in Lagos State have commended the recent ban on styrofoam and single-use plastics by the state government.
Some of the community leaders, who gave the commendation in separate interviews on Tuesday, January 30, 2024, in Lagos, urged residents to comply with the ban in order to safeguard the environment.
The state government had on Jan. 21 announced the ban on usage and distribution of styrofoam and single-use plastics in the state.
Mr Tokunbo Wahab ,Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, who made the announcement, said the ban was to protect the environment.
Mr Segun Babatunde, Chairman, Community Development Committee (CDC), Kosofe Local Government, said styrofoam and single-use plastics posed danger to the environment and public health.
“We, in the community, are very happy about the step taken by the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu,
“Styrofoam and single-use plastics pose risks to our health and the environment .
“Health is wealth, and our wellbeing is more important than any other thing, so the ban is in order.
“And we are appealing to residents of our various communities to comply with the ban for the sake of their health and the environment,” he said.
Mr Olabowale Kasunmu, the CDC Chairman in Agbado Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area (LCDA), also lauded the government’s ban on styrofoam.
“Plastics clog canals and drains in many parts of the state and this could lead to disasters, such as flooding during the rainy season.
”Government and community leaders have been working seriously to evacuate plastics from drains and canals to prevent flooding in our various communities in the state,” he said.
Kasunmu also appealed to government to provide waste bins in all corners of the state to enable residents dispose their wastes properly.
The community leader also urged the state government to find lasting solutions to the delay operators of LAWMA waste trucks experience at Igando dump site before accessing the site to dump wastes collected from different parts of the state.
“Most of them say they spend more than 24 hours before having access to dump wastes at the Igando dumpsite, all these pose a challenge to community’s health.
“That is why majority of LAWMA operators find it difficult to serve residents well, that is why bags of refuse and wastes stay long in our various neighbourhoods uncollected.
Also, Moruf Omodele, the CDC Chairman in Agege Local Government, also urged residents to comply with the ban.
Omodele said that government had done well by banning styrofoam.
“If the ban reduce environmental challenges in the state, it is great. “Plastics clog our canals and drains and also endanger our health,” he said.
The community leader advised the government to work with manufacturers of styrofoam on how to come up with products that are friendly to the environment.
By Kazeem Akande
