In line with positive remarks made by the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab at the Y2025 Ministerial Press Briefing applauding the operational efficiency of the Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) popularly known as KAI, the Corps Marshal of the Agency, Major Olaniyi Olatunbosun Cole (rtd) also re-echoed KAI’s positive scorecard against environmental infractions and nuisances in the State on Friday.
This disclosure was made by Cole in a statement made available to newsmen at the Command Headquarters of the Agency at Bolade-Oshodi.
According to him, ‘‘Upon assuming office in February 2025, the marching order was to reduce environmental infractions in the metropolis daily via our 21 Operational Commands and the Agency’s Special Squad’s contribution in reducing the scourge of street trading, hawking while paying increased attention to open defecation in the State which has reduced since more than 165 defaulters have been arrested between August 2024 till date’’.
Highlighting the increased success recorded against the negative trend of street trading, the KAI top man revealed how the Agency effected daily arrests of illegal traders displaying wares for sale in traffic, on lay-bys, gutter slabs, setbacks, road verges, medians which accounted for 3,786 arrests between April 2024 till date, a positive indicator outlining the efficiency of the Agency’s enforcement techniques.
The retired Army Major, having serially admonished commuting Lagos residents to embrace safety by accessing strategically-built pedestrian bridges, also revealed how a total of 6,789 arrests were made from April 2024 till date, serving as deterrents for other intending defaulters.
Also citing the mandate of making Lagos cleaner and habitable for business as enshrined in the THEMES Development Agenda of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Corps Marshal disclosed how 192 environmental abatement notices were served from April 2024 till date to residences, and places of business found in contravention of the State’s environmental laws as part of proven ways to seek voluntary compliance before subsequent enforcement operation.
He, therefore, emphasised the importance of continuous stakeholder engagement, a resolution mechanism which brings together identified stakeholders in the environmental sector to discuss and proffer solutions on challenging issues, explaining how the Agency organised a total of 170 community engagement meetings, which yielded great results.
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