The Lagos State Waste Management Agency, (LAWMA) has commenced a special operation to rid the state’s streets of carts.
The agency said cart pushers have constituted environmental nuisance to the residents and created opportunities for crimes to thrive.
Agency’s Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni, stated that the exercise which would be a continuous one, was initiated to weaken the ability of the cart pushers to return to business.
Odumboni also said this is to reduce to the barest minimum, the cart population defacing the cityscape.
The clampdown comes amidst government’s fresh ban on commercial motorcycle operators in some parts of the state.
He said, “Cart pushers are about the biggest threat to our effort at attaining environmental sustainability. We will not allow anyone or group of persons to derail the ongoing efforts to make the environment better.
“Criminal elements have hidden under this guise to carry out heinous crimes. If there are no carts to push, they will get other jobs.
“They pose as much threat to the environment as to the security of the citizens. It will shock you to know that many of them keep weapons like knives, machetes, etc, in their carts to attack and dispossess unsuspecting persons when the opportunity presents itself. One of such cart pusher was tried and jailed last week, having been apprehended at Victoria Island, vandalising and stealing government’s iron rods. There have been many reported cases of theft of movable items from people’s compounds traced to them”.
The LAWMA boss disclosed that opportunity was open for repentant cart-pushers, to step forward, get registered with LAWMA, given proper orientation, and trained as pickers and offtakers of recyclables, working hand in hand with other stakeholders in the waste management chain.
Odumboni maintained that government was not interested in taking away their means of livelihood, which however has to be within the confines of the law.