Lagos Govt., NARTO to provide mobile conveniences at Tincan

Tayo Oladipupo |

Lagos State government and the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) have concluded plans to provide mobile toilets at the Tincan port road for road users in the area.

This move was necessitated by the health nature of the port access road and the Tincan Island port environs.

The arrangement was reached when the Commissioner for Environment in Lagos, Hon. Babatunde Durosimi paid a courtesy visit to NARTO in Lagos.

The visit was also part of the sensitisation campaign and enlightenment against indiscriminate dumping of refuse and other environmental nuisance at Tincan.

The Vice President, Dry Cargo, of NARTO Lagos Abdullahi Inuwa enjoined other industry stakeholders to key into the kind gesture by providing the Mobile toilets in their respective areas.

Inuwa pleaded with the Management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to provide a piece of land around the area so that the association can erect the mobile toilets even as he lauded the Apapa Local Government for its efforts in bringing life back to the area.

He said, “I also want to thank the Apapa Local Government Chairman for his effort. The local government environs will not forget him for his works, he has restored sanity in Apapa, and business activities are gradually coming back. I want to tell you here that NARTO in collaboration with Lagos state ministry of environment will ensure that Apapa and its environs are clean.

“We are also trying to bring in some mobile toilets along the roads for road users. I urge other stakeholders to emulate what we are doing in providing that facility within their areas. I also urge the Nigerian Ports Authority to please, if it is possible; allocate a piece of land for us where we can build the toilets.

Inuwa also lauded the state government for its visionary leadership especially in the area of creating the Lagos Rescue Unit (LRU) charged with the responsibility of rescuing trucks.

“The government has come to our rescue by trying to clear all the refuse and other environmental nuisance. I urge all of us here to please key into this kind gesture extended to us here and be law abiding citizens by dumping our refuse at the right place because the government has provided dustbins at some strategic positions”

“Today, the Honourable Commissioner for Environment is here with us as part of the state government commitment and concern in providing enabling business environment for the communities in Apapa and its environs despite the difficulties in assessing the Apapa, Tincan, Coconut axis due to dilapidated condition of the road and artificial traffic caused by some selfish individuals who are indiscriminately dumping refuse and other environmental nuisance all over the roads”.

“As we all know, a dirty environment can cause a break out of epidemic which no one among us prays for. I want to also tell the gathering here that any person after this enlightenment campaign, found dumping refuse in unauthorized place, will be exposed to the law enforcement agencies”.

Also speaking the Commissioner of Environment, Mr. Babatunde Durosimi who was represented by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment, Mr Babatunde Humpe lauded NARTO for its cooperation.

He also tasked members of the association to provide people who will take charge of the mobile toilets when finally provided.

“We want to appreciate NARTO because when we started this journey we were not aware that it will get to this level. We appreciate them because of their cooperation they have promised so many things which we didn’t expect that they will do but they did.

“Part of it was mentioned by the chairman that they will provide mobile toilet. They will give us volunteers who will be policing where we want to put the toilets. They have also said that they will cooperate with our men to ensure that the environment is very neat”.

Durosinmi called on the market men and women in and around Apapa axis to cooperate with the state government and NARTO to ensure that these facilities are protected.

“To me this is a great achievement because when his Excellency directed that we should move to Apapa and clean it up, we looked at it and said this is a big task but NARTO people made it easy for us.

“To the market men and women the message now is for you, we are seeking for your cooperation. You know this government is civil, dealing with people in a civil way. Before now we won’t call you to tell you what we want to do, we will just come and start doing it. But the Governor is running all-inclusive governance, we want to be civil and be dealing with everyone, talk to ourselves, rob minds together and move forward”.

“We are here because we want to keep this place clean, how do we do it, we don’t want to be chasing ourselves with gun or anything that is the reason why we are here. We want to work together to ensure we achieve our goals. The way I am seeing you, I am sure you will cooperate with us,” he concluded.