The Coalition of human rights advocacy group under the aegis of Civil Society Organization Strategists, has canvassed more collaboration with the Hon. Commissioner for Environment Dr. Tokunbo Wahab in his concerted efforts geared at rewriting the narrative for a safe and viable environment across Lagos State.
In a statement jointly signed by Comrade Ahmed Balogun the Convener Frontline Socio–Economic Research Centre and Comrade Alex Omotehinse the President Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights, the Commissioner Tokunbo Wahab was lauded for his unwavering passion targeted at redirecting the scheme of things in the environment sector.
“Efforts of the Hon.Commissioner for Environment, Tokunbo Wahab in this regards not only deserves applauding but requires all well -meaning Lagosians and global citizens to support.
“An environmentally safe society, provides stability and security necessary for economic investments.
“In Lagos, many of the drainages, carnals and water ways have sprout up illegal, squatter structures, causing massive flooding in the State and serving as hibernation grounds for numerous , illicit activities, social vices, drugs, and extreme violent crimes.
CSOs Strategists also advocated the need for a more environmental safety conscious populace, citing it as an integral ingredient for even growth in all sectors.
“In recent times, there have been incidences of fire outbreaks, where properties goods and human lives that cannot be quantifled in millons were lost, largely due to inabilities of requisite firefighter services and security personnel to access the location of the incidences.
“It is good to emphasize that the original master-plans of most communities in the State that provide for “Environmental harmony and safety” have been bastardized by the nefarious activities of unscrupulous property/land merchants and greedy developers.
“We are conscious of the importance of the environmental safety measures for the protection of lives, businesses and properties of citizens, which the State has the onerous responsibilities to bear.
“The global ozone layer depletion crisis has provoked monumental “climate change”, and environmental crisis, affecting agriculture, health and standards of living of mankind.
“Steps are being taking by State parties, global institutions, corporate bodies and individuals to remedy the slopes of reclaiming nature. Lagos cannot be an exception.
“This is even more critical to the development agenda of transforming Lagos into a prosperous, modern, industrial mega-city.”
The group however, takes the recent narrative of the Gubernatorial candidate of Labour Party Mr. Gbadebo Rhodes Vivour with a pinch of salt, stating unequivocally that his stance on the state of environment is politicised.
“Tackling this social menace of illegal structures hindering infrastructural harmony should not be politicized as Gbadebo Rhodes Vivour, the Gubernatorial candidate of Labour Party in the last general elections is attempting to do.
“Rather, all hands must be on deck to keep Lagos, environmentally safe for all , for business to thrive and for development of our communities.
“Lagos is overwhelmed with the challenges of population explosion as well as environmental despoilations, which is threatening to shred the template of the Lagos State Government developmental agenda to transform the state into a “Global Mega – City”.
“Environmental safety is strategic to the holistic development of any society. Today’s global community is contending with myriads of environmentally – mitigated crisis.
“Some are natural, others are by- products of becoming an industrial society”, while many are man-made
“The Lagos State Government has been trying to take up all these in its strides, the lagoon surge, despoilations of nature and various socio- environmental malaise,-crimes, drugs, prostitution, kidnappings, terrorism etc are a few examples of social problems the State is facing because of illegal squatters’ structures.” The statement reads.