Encomium
Mixed feelings have been expressed as the Lagos State government cancelled the monthly environmental sanitation. Those who supported the decision said it would make them fully utilize the day for economic activities.
However, those who opposed claimed said the cancellation could make the environment dirtier, thus serving as a threat to health.
It would be recalled that the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, in a statement said the cancellation became necessary due to the present economic realities in the country.
He said that the environmental laws, policies and procedure have not been able to match the exponential growth of Lagos into a megacity.
ENCOMIUM Weekly sought the reactions of Lagosians on the cancellation…
‘IT IS NOT WELL THOUGHT OUT’ – Mrs. Dorcas
Cleanliness is next to godliness. The cancellation of environmental sanitation is not well thought out. It will make our environment dirtier and unhealthy for living. People would pay less attention to their environment in keeping them safe and healthy.
‘IT AFFECTED MY BUSINESS’ – Miss patience
Environmental sanitation affected my business. I am happy with the cancellation. We usually have low sales throughout the day. It also affects my movement. The cancellation gives me the freedom to move freely and have good sales.
‘DOING THINGS WILLINGLY IS BETTER’ – Mrs. Omolabake
You don’t have to be forced to clean your house. Doing things willingly is better. Those who wouldn’t clean their environment wouldn’t irrespective of the laws made. But when they face health issues, they would remember to always make their environment clean without being told.
‘IT’S CANCELLATION IS GOOD’ – Mr. Fisayo
I guess its cancellation is because Lagosians are not doing what’s expected. Most Lagosians use the Saturday to relax at home doing nothing. I clean my house every day. I believe we shouldn’t have to wait till month end to sanitize our environment. Its cancellation is good.
‘WE MISUSE THE FREEDOM GIVEN TO US’ – Miss bisi
The cancellation is fine but I would have loved it if the government had enforced a stricter law, because in this part of the world, we misuse the freedom given to us. There should be severe punishment for anyone whose environment is found filthy. This will make Lagosians more disciplined.
‘LAGOSIANS ARE YET TO KNOW WHAT CLEANLINESS ENTAILS’ – Mr. Folarin
They shouldn’t have cancelled it. They should have modified it to suit everyone. They could have also increased the punishment for anyone who doesn’t get involved in the activities. Lagosicans are yet to know what cleanliness entails.
‘IT IS A WASTE OF TIME’ – Mr. David
As for me, I consider it a waste of time. Most people pretend to be involved in the activity. Let those who sanitize their environment keep doing so and those who don’t, whatever consequences that surfaces, let them bear it alone.
‘IT WILL MAKE IT WORSE’ – Mr. Samuel
I wouldn’t say I like the new system because the last Saturday of the month is the only opportunity I have in cleaning our environment. So, the cancellation would make it worse.
‘IT WILL ENCOURAGE DIRTINESS’ – Issa Azeez
I don’t agree with the cancellation. It will encourage dirtiness. And you would agree with me that dirtiness leads to all kinds of diseases.
‘GOVERNMENT SHOULD LEAVE THINGS AS THEY ARE’ – Mrs. Issa
I disagree with the cancellation. Ordinarily, when there was environmental sanitation, the environment was dirty not to talk of cancelling it. The government should just leave things as they were before it becomes worse.
‘I AGREE WITH THE CANCELLATION’ – Okon Louis
I don’t see any reasonable reason why a man would leave his house unkempt and wait for government declaration of environmental sanitation. Clearing my environment has become my daily hobby.
‘IT IS UNREASONABLE’ – Mr. Peter
In my opinion, why would they cancel the good thing they have created? It is unreasonable. The sanitation has helped most of us to have a clean and safe environment because of the work we do. So, having it cancelled is a bad thing.
‘IT IS THE ONLY TIME WE HAVE’ – Mr. Odu Sunday
It is not good as it was cancelled. It is once in a month and it gives people who are always busy chance to clean their environment. It is the only time we have the opportunity to do so. This make for a good hygiene.
‘IT WILL LEAD TO DIRTINESS’ – Mr. Lukman
It is not reasonable as it will lead to dirtiness. Dirtiness serves no good as it would serve as a threat to our health.
‘THEY SHOULDN’T HAVE CANCELLED IT’ – Mr. Feary
I don’t support it. The government shouldn’t have cancelled it because even when we exercised it, the environment was still dirty let alone having it cancelled. We should continue the exercise.
‘LAGOSIANS ARE UNDISCIPLINED’ – Mr. Morries
Before the government makes such decisions, they should have ensured that environment sanitation laws have been fully imbibed. Rather, the opposite is the case, Lagosians are undisciplined. The cancellation would result in an increase in the pollution of the environment causing other health hazards.
‘HEALTHY LIFE REQUIRES A SAFE ENVIRONMENT’ – Mr. Eze Ezeke
Lagosians need to live a healthy life with the everyday hustling and bustling and to have a healthy life requires a safe environment. Cancelling it would make the spread of communicable diseases increase, thereby affecting people’s life.
