LAGOS STATE GOVT, NAVY COLLABORATE TO CLEAN UP APAPA AXIS
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By: Motunrayo Aniwura
The Lagos State Government and the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS Beecroft) base in Apapa on Friday unveiled collaboration plans to clean up Apapa and Environ as well as ensure the environmental sustainability of the axis.
Speaking during a courtesy visit by the Nigerian Navy Ship BEECROFT command, led by Navy Commodore Paul Ponfa Nimmyel in Alausa, Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, reaffirmed the State Government’s commitment to continue to foster collaboration for environmental sustainability.
Wahab said that as a state, environmental sustainability is one of the goals the government is working hard to achieve for its citizens, adding that whatever the government seeks to do is for the betterment of society, especially when other Government Agencies collaborate with the government.
He said for those familiar with Apapa, it was an elitist area in Lagos, saying that over time the area has deteriorated and is gradually becoming notoriously riddled with a lot of Environmental infractions, adding that it is high time stakeholders in the area took ownership of their environment.
He said 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 mentioned that the LAGESC/KAI squad led by retired Major Olatubosun Cole had carried out a clean-up exercise around the Apapa underbridge several times, stressing that the government had tried to maintain sanity in the area while some individuals have accused
the government of high-handedness.
He said in some situations, people needed to be told and compelled to do the right thing for the collective good, assuring the command of NNS Beecroft that the government is in total support of the clean-up of Apapa underbridge up to the Marine beach.
He assured that LAWMA will provide logistics, including all the trucks needed to cart away waste, while the KAI/LAGESC team would also be on the ground, adding that the EFAG Team would also be deployed to come and clean and desilt the drainages in that axis
before the set date
He mentioned that after the clean-up, LASPARK would visit to see the possibility of doing a proper landscaping under the bridge for sustainability.
According to him, “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.”
”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,” he said.
In response, Navy Commodore Paul Ponfa Nimmyel expressed appreciation to the government for collaborating with NNS Beecroft base for a clean up of Apapa and environ on Saturday May 24, 2025 between the hours of 6am and 11am saying this marks part of activities to mark the 69th Anniversary of the NNS.
He said the event will be a one-week event, stressing that NNS Beecroft would clean/clear all the waste in the axis, rid the place of hoodlums and touts, amongst other environmental infractions
He added that the NNS Beecroft authoritieH would, after the clean-up, call on all agencies and stakeholders in the Apapa and Ajegunle axis to join hands to ensure environmental sustainability of the areas.
Also present at the meeting were the Permanent Secretaries of the Office of Environmental Services, Dr. Gaji Omobolaji Tajudeen, and his Drainage Services counterpart, Engr. Mahamood Adegbite and the head agencies in the Ministry
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