In a bid to restore environmental order and sustainability in the Apapa axis of Lagos, the Lagos State Government and the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS Beecroft) have formed a strategic alliance to carry out a large-scale clean-up operation in the area.
The initiative was unveiled on Friday during a courtesy visit by the NNS Beecroft Command, led by Navy Commodore Paul Ponfa Nimmyel, to the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, at the State Secretariat in Alausa.
Mr. Wahab, while receiving the naval delegation, emphasized the importance of inter-agency collaboration in achieving environmental sustainability in Lagos.
“As a state, environmental sustainability is one of the goals the government is working hard to achieve for its citizens,” he said. “Whatever the government seeks to do is for the betterment of society, especially when other Government Agencies collaborate with the government.”
He described the current environmental condition of Apapa as alarming, pointing out that the once-elitist part of Lagos had degenerated into a hub of infractions.
“For those familiar with Apapa, it was an elitist area in Lagos,” Wahab noted. “Over time, the area has deteriorated and is gradually becoming notoriously riddled with a lot of environmental infractions. It is high time stakeholders in the area took ownership of their environment.”
Commending the NNS team for their vision and initiative, Wahab pledged the full support of the state government for the clean-up project.
“The NNS team has built a clear vision to take care of that ecosystem, and the government is determined to encourage and support the initiative,” he stated.
The commissioner highlighted the previous efforts of the LAGESC/KAI squad, under the leadership of retired Major Olatubosun Cole, in cleaning the Apapa underbridge area. He acknowledged public criticism of government enforcement but insisted that discipline is essential for progress.
“In some situations, people needed to be told and compelled to do the right thing for the collective good,” Wahab stressed. “We are in total support of the clean-up of Apapa underbridge up to the Marine Beach.”
Wahab assured that the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) would provide the necessary logistics and trucks to evacuate the waste. He added that the EFAG team would be deployed to clean and desilt the drains, while KAI/LAGESC officers would be on the ground to support enforcement.
He also mentioned that LASPARK would be brought in after the clean-up to assess the area for possible landscaping under the bridge for long-term sustainability.
“We are willing, we are ready, and we are going to collaborate with you for the sake of Greater Lagos and as support for the NNS Beecroft anniversary,” he said.
He further emphasized the state’s renewed commitment to law enforcement. “So government will need your support and assistance as we enforce the laws. For me, there’s no reason why you have laws if you can’t enforce them, and that is what this administration is doing differently. If we don’t enforce any of our laws, the state will become more like a failed state.”
In his remarks, Navy Commodore Paul Ponfa Nimmyel expressed gratitude to the state government for supporting the initiative. He announced that the clean-up would take place on Saturday, May 24, 2025, from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m., as part of activities marking the 69th anniversary of the NNS.
He said the week-long programme would focus on clearing waste, removing hoodlums and touts, and addressing other infractions in the Apapa axis.
The Commodore stated that after the clean-up, NNS Beecroft would engage stakeholders and agencies in the Apapa and Ajegunle areas to ensure the initiative is sustained.
Present at the meeting were Dr. Gaji Omobolaji Tajudeen, Permanent Secretary of the Office of Environmental Services; Engr. Mahamood Adegbite, Permanent Secretary of the Office of Drainage Services; and other senior officials of the Ministry.
Source: Facebook | LASG
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