Ambode’s clean Lagos initiative

I want to commend the Lagos State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, for signing the  Environmental Management and Protection Act  passed by the Lagos State House of Assembly into law.

In 1987, an Italian  allegedly shipped in 1,079,000 metric tonnes of toxic waste, which he claimed were residual chemicals and raw materials, to Koko in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State.

He said it was for a proposed fertilizer manufacturing company in Nigeria. But, as the people found out later, the items were killer materials.

Several hundreds of people lost their lives and many got life-threatening illnesses.

But in the new Clean Lagos Initiative of Governor Ambode, it is an offence for anyone to dump any toxic waste capable of causing harm in Lagos State.

The Italian that caused sorrow for people of Koko disappeared but under Ambode, anybody who tries to put at risk the lives of Lagosians will  face the full wrath of law.

This is highly commendable and should be emulated by other governors. Nigeria should not be a dumping ground especially for toxic and e-waste. Governor Ambode has started the revolution and I sincerely hope other governors will follow suit.

• Yemisi Collins

Apapa, Lagos.