By Lucy Osuizigbo
Lagos – The Ikeja Metro Lions Club, District 404B2-Nigeria, an NGO, on Wednesday urged Lagos residents to show their civic responsibility by imbibing the culture of environmental cleanliness.
The club’s President, Mrs Elizabeth Ibe, made the call at the NGO’s Environmental Protection sensitisation programme and donation of cleaning items at Oregun Primary Medical Health Centre, in Ikeja, Lagos.
Ibe condemned the practice of dumping refuse in public places, walkways and major roads in some parts of the state.
She advised members of the public, shop owners, market women and households to desist from indiscriminate dumping of refuse and drop their wastes with government-accredited waste managers.
According to her, inadequate waste management services, ignorance and lack of law enforcement were some of the factors that contributed to indiscriminate dumping of refuse on the roads.
“Problems of waste management is a global issue and it requires a collective approach to address it to secure our health and wellness.
“Government alone cannot do it. This is why the Ikeja Metro Lions club is sensitising the public on the dangers associated with indiscriminate dumping of refuse in our environment.
“Health they say is wealth, and we must all be involved to protect ourselves, our homes, the state and country at large. We need to imbibe the culture of taking care of our environment.
“We need to see the cleaning of our environment as a civic pride and a civic responsibility,” Ibe said.
Also speaking, Miss Blessing Umebali, the club’s Communications Officer, said that the continuous dumping of refuse had resulted to bad odour and attraction of unwanted insects such as flies and mosquitoes.
Umebali urged the state government to endeavour to provide the necessary waste management services, monitor and regulate waste management to help maintain good sanitation in the state.
“Prolonged dumping of wastes on the road and environment can lead to severe sanitation problems.
“It can also increase risks of the spread of diseases such as cholera, malaria and typhoid among residents in the area,’’ she said.
Also, Mrs Kehinde Shogunwa, the Project Manager of the organisation, said that residents needed to change their attitude of seeing the roads and streets as a refuse dump sites.
She urged them to embrace hygienic waste disposal systems.
Receiving the donated items, Mrs Janet Atotilato, Chief Nursing Officer, Oregun Primary Medical Health Centre, thanked the NGO for strengthening and equipping the centre with environmental protection equipment.
“On behalf of the Onigbongbo Local Council Development Area, we appreciate your gesture towards promoting good hygiene in our centre,” she said.
(NAN)