August 11, 2024

… As Corp Marshal Reads Riot Act To Would-Be Defaulters

As part of sustained efforts to mitigate environmental infractions in the State, operatives of the Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) apprehended a truckload of banned Styrofoam packs in transit in the State.

Also known as KAI, LAGESC Surulere division apprehended the truckload of banned styrofoam packs which were bound for Cameroon (in a Mercedes-Benz 814) at Ojuelegba area of the State.

Speaking on the discovery, the Corps Marshal of the Agency, Major Olaniyi Olatunbosun Cole (rtd) expressed dismay at the fact that despite the carpet ban on Styrofoam in the State, there are negative elements that stacked away these banned products in warehouses with intent to sell at reduced prices to unsuspecting buyers from other States.

According to him, ‘‘You would recall in January that the State Government via the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources announced the carpet ban on the use and distribution of Styrofoam and other single-use plastics across the State.

“Adequate publicity and stakeholder engagement was deplored to spread the word but some negative elements decided to withhold these inflammable products in their warehouses beyond the deadline’’.

Investigations also revealed that Iya Ireti Plastic Company, situated in the Lagos Island area of the State, sold the Styrofoam packs at a street value of ₦2,090,000.00 to a Cameroonian national with the hopes of moving the truckload of Styrofoam packs through Akwa-Ibom State for sales in the Central African country.

Cole reiterated the commitment of the Agency to rid the State of environmental infractions just as he vowed to deal with all environmental defaulters.

He maintained that the distribution and use of Styrofoam remains banned in Lagos, citing the new constitution of a task force by the Agency to consolidate intelligence efforts aimed at flushing out environmental defaulters across the State.