LASG, Navy collaborate to clean-up Apapa

The Lagos State Government (LASG) on Friday assured the Nigerian Navy of its collaboration to clean up Apapa environs ahead of its 69th celebration coming up in June.

The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, made this known while receiving the Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT, on a courtesy visit, in his office in Alausa, Ikeja.

Wahab said the ministry, in an aim to continue the existing bilateral relations between the two, would provide maximum support to ensure Apapa and Lagos as a whole remain clean and environmentally friendly.

Earlier, the NNS commander, Commodore Paul Nimmyel, in his remarks, said the base intends to carry out environmental exercise around Apapa and its environs.

“Beginning from May 24, the base intends to carry out an environmental exercise.

“We intend to clean up from Ijora under the bridge, towards Marine Beach and all the environs in that area.

“We are mobilised as a unit, but we will also require assistance from all agencies under your office that are tied to clean up the environment.

“The drainage, like you know, are blocked, the bridge itself, and under the bridge is messed up because there are a lot of touts and hoodlums that reside under the bridge and do all sorts of nefarious activities which is just a mess, he said.

The commodore pleaded for the ministry’s assistance, saying the exercise would be early to avoid traffic gridlock.

“On that day, we intend to start by 6.00 a.m. in the morning, to probably finish at about 11.00 a.m. because it’s hard to be in Lagos in a busy place.

“We want to start early, finish early, so we don’t hinder traffic and allow business people or people that have other things to do on Saturday to go about their business.

“Closely related to that, the navy will be celebrating our 69th anniversary on June 1, but prior to that, a week to June, starting from the 26th, we’re going to have various activities lined up leading up to June 1,” he said.

He said there would be a lot of visitors from outside the country and outside the state coming to the base, hence the reason for the clean-up.

“This is one of the main reasons we decided that this clean-up must be done, and after that, it must be sustained.

“We have intimated the companies around us, and they are going to partner with us, so it’s going to be a whole-of-society approach.

“It’s not just going to be the Navy. The state government and the stakeholders doing their businesses around would be part of it,” he said.

He also requested a water retribution plant to be able to purify the water and sewage plants.

“We need a water-retribution plant to be able to purify the water and sewage plants because of the volume of people that are there and the number of waste. The Marine Beach community is quite large.

“So, we need some environmental projects to help us reduce the number of waste or recycle the number of waste that comes out from that number of people.

“So, we made a small list and to let you know also that if any agency under you has any activity to carry out in the Apapa, Ojo, Iba axis and on the waterways generally in Lagos State, the NNS BEECROFT is there to support you 100 per cent.

“All we need is just 12 hours notice. So, any activity to be carried out on the waterways or in that general area of Lagos State, we are always on hand to assist as best as we can,” he said.

The commissioner, while responding to the commodore, said the ministry and the state as a whole were always ready to collaborate for the benefit of the people.

“As a state, this is one of those things we look up to. We believe we are here because of the citizens.

“Whatever we seek to do for the betterment of society, it is easier when we have collaborations from other agencies or parts of government.

“For those who are familiar with Apapa, Apapa used to be the place of the elites. So when we declare a mission to take care of that ecosystem, it behoves us to rally around you and support it.

“What you seek to do is something we are always thinking about. So, with respect to your request, Commander, be rest assured that every of our agencies will supply all you need,” he said.

He reiterated that the ministry was ready to collaborate with the Navy while seeking their support anytime they were called upon.

Present at the courtesy visit were the top cabinet officers of the ministry.