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LASEPA raises alarm, says air pollution kills 30,000 children in Lagos

The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) has raised an alarm and disclosed that air pollution is resulting in the death of children in the State.The General Manager of LASEPA, Dr Dolapo Fasawe disclosed this to newsmen on the sidelines of the official kick-off ceremony for the “EKO Clean Air” project on Saturday in Lagos.Dr Fasawe disclosed that 22,500 children died from air pollution in the State in 2021, stressing that the figure was 75 per cent of 30,000 people who died in 2021 in the state due to the bad environment.Fasawe said that the figures were derived from a report which recorded the impact of air pollution on the health of residents. The GM said that the administration of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu had been very deliberate and proactive in its resolve to deliver clean air and a sustainable environment to Lagos residents.She noted that upon resumption, the Governor prioritised health and the environment in the administration’s THEMES agenda, saying: “because there is no good health without a good environment.Fasawe added: “Eko for Clean Air is preaching prosperity, good health, increased GDP and increased productivity for the people of Lagos State. We are currently in Itedo community and the response has been mind blowing.“We did Air Quality Study before this intervention and we also did something called the K-A-P: Knowledge, Attitude and Practices and we realised that a lot of persons did not know the effects of air pollution on health.“So, our coming here to preach clean energy and recycling, the people are excited and they are committed to partnering with the government on the project.“As you can see, the government is teaching the people the practice of waste to wealth by buying the plastic waste, E-waste and used oils from them, thus petting money to their pocket”.She said that LASEPA would return to the community in four weeks to measure the air quality and ascertain their compliance with the practice already established.“If they had listened to us, and they are practising what we have taught them, the air will be cleaner. We will not stop to see plastic bottles on the road because Lagos State is living behind a permanent plastic recycler in this community. Everyday, bring your plastic and you will be paid right there for used plastic,” Fasawe said.The general manager said that the state government intended to replicate the project in the 57 local government areas and LCDAs before the end of the administration of the present government.She urged the people of the community to use rechargeable lamps instead of kerosene lanterns, use gas instead of firewood and reusable bottles for drinking water instead of sachet or bottle water.At the event, 500 cooking gas cylinders, 400 rechargeable lamps and 1000 reusable bottles and bags were distributed to residents of the community by the government.The climax of the occasion was the commissioning of a borehole facility 80 in-built water treatment gadgets built for the community by the government.Many residents of the community who brought their recyclable in exchange for money smiled home as they were paid instantly for their wastes.Students and pupils from schools within the community were receptive to the teaching on clean air and some of them went home with various gift items.In the meantime, Lagos State Government has expressed commitment to building the foundation of a circular economy in the state as well as advocating for environmental sustainability.Mr Tunji Bello, Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Lagos State, stated this on Saturday in Lagos while delivering a keynote address at the official unveiling of the “Eko Clean Air” project at Itedo community.Represented by Dr Tajudeen Gaji, Permanent Secretary, Environmental Services, Bello said that he was excited to bring the advocacy on circularity and environmental sustainability to Itedo community in Lekki.He said that the advocacy was a very clear and important sentiment expressed across multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) goals, under the states localized initiative, with the theme “Eko for Clean Air”.“I commend the commitment and foresight of progressive partners for their strategic support and fostering of a sense of mutual partnership with the government on the sustainability of the environment.“And the need for a truly pragmatic circular economy approach. This is a true demonstration and testament of the company, being an eco-conscious and eco-warrior body,” Bello said.While citing the UN Environment Programme, Bello said that environmental sustainability through a circular economy involved making life choices that ensured an equal, if not better way of life for future generations.“And the reduction of waste to a minimum by reusing, repairing, refurbishing, and recycling existing materials and products.“Environmental sustainability aims to improve the quality of human life without putting unnecessary strain on the earth’s supporting ecosystems.“Over the years, environmental pollution has taken centre stage a major concern of the new civilized world, with far-reaching impacts on human health and the environment.“Human activities no matter how little, have an impact from the use of solid fuels such as charcoal, waste plastics, firewood usage etc. to massive industrial processes.“All these contribute a major part to the current unsustainable state of our shared environment,” Bello said.While citing the World Bank and World Health Organisation, Bello noted that air pollution was considered a major environmental and health threat with an increasing economic burden.According to him, the worst impacts of air pollution are felt in our informal and small-scale industries as well as our most vulnerable populations.“Therefore, the concept and implementation of a circular economy are necessitated not only due to the ongoing environmental insults caused by improper handling and disposal of various trade effluents:“Including plastics, waste oil  and oily waste, waste electronics and electrical waste within the state.“Also to showcase the clear tenets of waste to value as a socio-economic pollution control mechanism which can stimulate new businesses with huge economic potential from an otherwise unwanted item or trade effluent,” Bello said.The commissioner said that the state, in its bid to combat environmental pollution and encourage sustainable development, has charged LASEPA with the responsibility of setting and enforcing environmental standards.He added that LASEPA was also vested with the responsibility of adopting a proactive approach to environmental protection, promoting a circular economy, and ensuring that all state’s environmental resources are consumed in a sustainable manner.“Today, the Lagos State government, in partnership with key stakeholders is proud to unveil an inclusive answer and intervention to these questions with the aim of advocating, educating, sensitizing, and enfranchising you all today.“Through this collaboration, we are going further, by directly rewarding you for practicing circular and sustainable processes:“And phasing out the abuse of the environment from the use of such as charcoal burning, bush burning, firewood usage and others through the ‘Switch 2 Gas’ initiative and also encourage you to appropriately handle various trade effluent through the newly introduced incentivized initiative “Trash for Cash”.

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