Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly have called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and relevant agencies to address the illegal activities of scavengers and the growing menace of manhole cover theft across the state.
The lawmakers also tasked the state government and relevant agencies to enforce all environmental laws to curb the rampant theft of manhole cover in the State.
This was highlighted during a plenary session on Tuesday, following a motion moved by Gbolahan Yishawu (Eti-Osa 2).
Yishawu, in his motion, said that illegal waste sourcing by scavengers has damaged the environment, and the theft of manhole covers has increased rapidly in the State.
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Highlighting the benefit of manholes on the Lagos roads, Yishawu explained that the scavengers had destroyed a lot of state infrastructures and made the government spend more on their replacement.
The lawmaker added that the state government needs to act fast to prevent more damage to state infrastructures through the activities of the scavengers.
He also called on the information ministry and relevant agencies to educate and enlighten Lagosians on waste sourcing and sorting for recycling.
In addition, Yishawu urged the state government to replace the various stolen manhole covers to avoid fatal accidents in the state.
He equally asked the State to stop the illegal sourcing of scrap materials, adding that the State should come up with whistle-blowing strategies and work with the Community Development Association (CDAs) to ensure that the scavengers could not operate at the grassroots.
The lawmaker also called for prosecuting any scavenger found stealing the maintenance holes.
In his contributions, Desmond Elliot (Surulere 1) commended Yishawu for the motion, adding that manhole covers in Surulere have all been stolen by scavengers.
He called on the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAMWA) to register scavengers, waste-sourcing operators, and scrap dealers before they could operate in the State, adding that all illegal waste-sourcing operators should be stopped in Lagos being an innovative city state.
Corroborating Yishawu, Kehinde Joseph (Alimosho 1) said, “We have all necessary laws in ensuring that stealing of maintenance holes cover does not occur in the State.
”The laws should be enforced effectively to curb the menace.”
Also, Bonu Solomon (Badagry 1) stated that destitution should be addressed, adding that the destitute will become scavengers in the future.
Bonu called for the removal of destitute from the streets of Lagos to prevent an increase in scavengers so as to curtail the continuous stealing of manholes in the State.
“We should activate the law. Any destitute is a potential scavenger in the future”, said Bonu.
Contributing to the debate, Moshood Aro (Ikorodu 1) called for community involvement in the fight against the stealing of manhole covers in the State.
Aro added that community members should always alert security agencies when scavengers steal the maintenance holes.
Also, Steven Ogundipe (Oshodi/Isolo 1) canvassed the need to light up the street of Lagos so that the scavengers would be seen in the dark when perpetuating the crime.
He called on the relevant agencies to collaborate to curb the crime.
Ogundipe said that road designs by the Ministry of Works should include CCTV so that cameras would monitor the activities of the scavengers.
However, the Speaker of the House, Rt (Hon) Mojisola Meranda, called on Lagosians to act on the role of whistleblowers, adding that the state government cannot handle it alone.
Meranda called on the state government to sensitize Lagosians to the adverse effects of the activities of the scavengers.
She urged the state government to educate Lagosians on the difference between sourcing used products for recycling and stealing state infrastructures.
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