Sanwo-Olu launches LAWMA Academy, Live Traffic Report

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has promised to use modern technology to manage transportation and waste management systems for effective and efficient service delivery in the state.

Sanwo-Olu made the promise at the inaugurations of Live Traffic Report, LTR, at Lagos Traffic Radio, Agidingbi, Ikeja and Lagos Waste Management Authority, LAWMA, Academy, at LAWMA headquarters, Ijora, Lagos.

The governor who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat at the launching said that effective waste management played a pivotal role in ensuring cleaner and liveable environment.

He further stated the need for policies and programmes to promote sustainable environment, and boost LAWMA’s capacity to discharge its duties effectively and efficiently.

He said: “As we all know, waste management plays an important role in ensuring a sustainable and healthy environment, which is why many nations and states expend huge resources on developing strategies to ensure clean environment through efficient, effective and sustainable waste management system. Lagos is certainly not different and that is one of the reasons why we are here today”.

Sanwo-Olu stated that initiative was aimed at making Lagos a safer and cleaner place to live in, adding that only a safe environment, free of toxins and filth, could guarantee the good health of the citizens; improve their productivity and enable them to operate at optimal level.

He said, “Our dream of course as a government is to make Lagos a 21st Century economy and a very smart State, but you will agree with me that this will be impossible, if we do not take the issue of waste management seriously and that’s why we must all commend the ministry of environment, management and staff of LAWMA for the good job they have been doing to keep Lagos clean, healthy and habitable for all us.”

He commended LAWMA for its unrelenting efforts in keeping Lagos clean and for the initiative, the first of its kind in this part of the world, adding that he had no doubt that the academy would impart attitudinal change, for proper and sustainable waste management in the State.

“It is heart-warming to know that LAWMA has not just been doing a good job in managing our waste in Lagos, but they have been doing this with steady improvement. An example is the collection and disposal capacity which we have raised from 433 trips per day in May 2020 and has gone to 720 trips per day, which is what they are currently doing”, the governor stated.

First Lady of Lagos State, Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, at the launching said that the event marked the beginning of another milestone for LAWMA, with hope to improve the environment.

She stated LAWMA Academy was critical at this time, as it would contribute immensely towards waste management education, with the aim of promoting literacy, career development and advancement, grooming responsible citizens that were capable of changing the social order in waste management, adding that the initiative was designed to raise the next generation of solid waste management scholars and entrepreneurs.

She called on residents to support the cause of cleanliness and effective waste management in the state, to ensure a cleaner and healthier environment. She added that the act of indiscriminate waste disposal had hazardous consequences such as flooding, blockage of drains and traffic obstructions, among others.

The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tunji Bello, noted that the LAWMA Academy was a laudable initiative, adding that the academy would create the right atmosphere to share experiences, and to groom the populace on effective waste management, especially the young ones.

Bello also said the launch of the Street Captains and Community Marshals initiatives were critical to curtailing indiscriminate dumping of refuse in the metropolis, urging residents to support efforts of the state government, to ensure that improper waste disposal became a thing of the past.

In his speech, the Managing Director/CEO of LAWMA, Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni, noted that LAWMA Academy would deploy innovative approach to impart knowledge of effective management of personal and corporate waste, thus entrenching best waste practices in society.

“LAWMA Academy is an educational arm of LAWMA instituted to educate the good citizens of Lagos State of all ages on the concept of proper waste management and also create career paths in the waste management sector”, he stated.

Odumboni said that people had over time perceived waste management as dirty job, done at dirty places, by dirty/downtrodden people and often for very poor wages, resulting in poor attitude towards the environment, a mindset which must change, to pave way for sustainable solid waste management.

“To attain a paradigm shift where waste is seen as a job for notable citizens of the State and as a resource rather than something that should be trashed, LAWMA is committed to deploying more interactive, educative and informative approaches in her transformational agenda”, he emphasized.

He commended the state government for the uncommon passion and commitment towards maintaining a cleaner and healthier environment, by supporting LAWMA’s various initiatives.

...Inaugurates Live Traffic Report

Speaking at the inauguration of Live Traffic Report, LTR, the governor said that the purpose of establishing it was aimed at enhancing the information management component of traffic gridlock and keep Lagosians abreast of traffic situation in the state.

Sanwo-Olu, who spoke through Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotosho, described the development as a symbol of creative thinking of the agency.

He stated that with the initiative, the state is moving towards a transportation system driven by technology and lauded the initiative.

He said: “It is going to play a key role in traffic management across Lagos.

“LTR is a key step towards using technology to revolutionise the management of traffic in Lagos. The problems of traffic in the state was a source of concern challenging the creativity of the present administration.

“The motorcycles would enable the number one traffic station in Nigeria have on-the-spot reporting of traffic situations in the State.

“If you look at the THEMES Agenda of Gov Sanwo-Olu administration, transportation is a very big pillar and in fact the very first one, and because it is the very first one, we are not joking about it.

“We are looking forward to the day that we are going to be reporting from the skies. I am also looking forward to the day that every thing that we do about Transportation is driven by technology.

“It is high time we got this kind of thing all over Lagos; the drone monitoring traffic and everything. All I want to assure you is that that first pillar of the T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda is so important that whatever idea anyone body brings that can ease transportation in Lagos and make us look forward like all other big cities in the world, Mr. Governor is ready to accept such ideas.”

He said he was excited because of the symbolism of it all and because of the creativity that this had brought.

“The symbolism of it is that they are not just sitting down there, they are thinking about how to improve what they are doing.

“They are going to fasten the movement of our Traffic Radio officials to accidents and every other thing disturbing traffic, so that people can get accurate information. There is nothing you spend on information management and gathering that is too much.

“I see this as a first step. It will get to a stage that Traffic Radio will acquire its own helicopter and get its officers all over the place to do their job based on the fastest technology.

“It will get to a time that we are going to be reporting from everywhere, because there is nothing left for us; the population is there, the traffic is there. So everything is challenging us, challenging our creativity, and ability to manage the little resources that we have,” he said.

Omotosho added that “You are not looking at this as just mere inauguration of motorcycles but the symbolism behind it; that it’s going to ease reporting, and enhance the fact that of all the things that we do, either in government or private affairs, information is key. if you don’t have information, you are dead. You need to know where you are going to, you need to know what has happened where you are coming from.”

The commissioner urged the management of the Radio “not to rest on their oars” but rather “continue to think on your feet on how to do better as a Radio station.”

He said the pilot scheme was designed to change the travel experience of commuters as they usually under-go harrowing experiences whenever there was a major incident on the road.

Akanle stated that the development would aid on-the-spot report of traffic situation in the State, saying that professional, comprehensive, real time and accurate information would be shared through the radio station and social media platform of the Agency.

According to him, the motorcycles would aid the station’s operations by allowing it to arrive timely at the particular incident spots towards providing on-the-spot live and accurate reports that would assist commuters make informed decisions, especially knowing the root cause of the traffic gridlock they were experiencing at that particular time.

He said the reports disseminated would now be more professional, comprehensive, real time and accurate, as it would be handled by trained journalists from the Station, adding that the information would now be shared through the airwaves and on social media platforms for a wider reach.

“You will all agree with me that the speed and manoeuvring ability of these motorcycles would be apt for this operation, just as it is a clear departure from the past where our reporters arrive late at these incident spots thereby hindering the provision of live and accurate reports for commuters,” he said.

The General Manager said the live reports at the incident spot would serve as a major boost to the delivery of information on traffic flow, while providing available alternate routes that would reduce convergence of vehicles leading to gridlock situation on highways.

He added that it could also be used as a veritable database for future projections on traffic management and transportation systems design for the State.

According to him, “the whole idea however, is inspired by the need to enhance road traffic movement and add value to the travel experience of motorists and commuters in Lagos State.”

Akanle commended Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for the support towards the actualization of the Pilot Scheme, which was borne by the desire to vitalise the traffic management system of the State as captured in the Administration’s policy thrust, tagged the T.H.E.M.E.S. Agenda. He added that the Pilot Scheme was complementary to the efforts of other stakeholders in the management of traffic in the State.

“This Pilot Scheme, is the contribution of the Lagos Traffic Radio to the actualization of the Traffic Management and Transportation component of the T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda for the socio-economic development and empowerment opportunities for all residents in Lagos State,” he said.

Dr. Frederic Oladeinde, Commissioner for Transportation, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Mr. Oluseyi Wenu, commended the initiative, stating that the importance of on-the-spot reporting could not be over emphasized.

He said the effort was key to the actualization of the administration’s traffic management vision, a pillar of the T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda.

Engr. Olajide Oduyoye, General Manager, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), said the initiative was an improvement on the profile of traffic management in the State, saying that the development was a welcomed one as it would complement efforts of LASTMA officials.

Olusegun Ogungbemide, Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps, Lagos, who was represented by Mrs. Olabisi Sonusi, said the development was timely and highly commendable, particularly with the congestion of traffic during the “ember months.”