𝐖ORLD 𝐇ABITAT 𝐃AT: 𝐋𝐀𝐖𝐌𝐀 𝐁𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐄𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐚𝐰𝐬.

Oru Leonard

The Managing Director/CEO of Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni, has called for total compliance with the environmental laws of the state, to protect the environment and its inhabitants, from the harmful effects of indiscriminate dumping of waste and other negative practices.

Mr. Odumboni made this observation yesterday, in his statement on the occasion of this year’s World Habitat Day, where he highlighted the need for residents, to maintain a cleaner and healthier environment, in their various business facilities and residential areas.

He said, “For the environment to be conducive for living and business transactions, the onus lies on us to keep it clean. Failure to ensure a cleaner and healthier environment leaves us vulnerable, exposing our homes to preventable health and environmental challenges, such as disease outbreaks, blockage of drainage channels and flooding, among others”.

The LAWMA boss said the Authority was working round the clock, to ensure that the waste management needs of residents in the state were met, adding that the agency was working with PSP operators for prompt evacuation of wastes generated by tenements across the Lagos metropolis.

He urged residents to patronise assigned PSP operators and desist from dumping refuse at inappropriate locations or giving same to already outlawed cart-pushers, whose activities undermine efforts of the agency, warning that defaulters would be made to face the wrath of the law.

Background
The United Nations designated the first Monday of October of every year as World Habitat Day to reflect on the state of our habitats, and on the basic right of all to adequate shelter. The Day is also intended to remind the world that we all have the power and the responsibility to shape the future of our cities and towns.

In 1985 the United Nations designated the first Monday of October every year as World Habitat Day. The idea is to reflect on the state of our towns and cities and the basic right of all to adequate shelter. It is also intended to remind the world of its collective responsibility for the future of the human habitat.

History
World Habitat Day was first celebrated in 1986 with the theme “Shelter is My Right”. Nairobi was the host city for the observance that year. Other previous themes have included: “Shelter for the Homeless” (1987, New York); “Shelter and Urbanization” (1990, London); “Future Cities” (1997, Bonn); “Safer Cities” (1998, Dubai); “Women in Urban Governance” (2000, Jamaica); “Cities without Slums” (2001, Fukuoka), “Water and Sanitation for Cities” (2003, Rio de Janeiro), “Planning our Urban Future” (2009, Washington, D.C.), “Better City, Better Life” (2010, Shanghai, China) and Cities and Climate Change (2011, Aguascalientes, Mexico).

The theme for this year’s World Habitat Day is “Accelerating urban action for a carbon-free world”.  Cities are responsible for some 70 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions with transport, buildings, energy, and waste management accounting for the bulk of urban greenhouse gas emissions. The future of our planet depends on national, regional and local governments and organizations, communities, academic institutions, the private sector and all relevant stakeholders working together to create sustainable, carbon-neutral, inclusive cities and towns. World Habitat Day will amplify the global Race to Zero Campaign and UN-Habitat’s ClimateAction4Cities and encourage local governments to develop actionable zero-carbon plans in the run up to the international climate change summit COP26 in November.