Lagos urged to review ban on cart pushers to address waste challenges – EnviroNews

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Community Development Advocacy Foundation (CODAF) has urged the Lagos State Government to review the ban on cart pushers.

The CODAF position is coming on the heels of outcry that has trailed the recent ban on cart pushers (popularly known as Abokis) who engage in local waste disposal services in Lagos, with many residents expressing their aversion because over the heaps of waste in virtually every street and clogged drainages. 

For years, waste management in the state relied on a balance between Lagos State Waste Management (LAWMA) trucks and cart pushers. However, this relationship was broken when LAWMA officials began treating cart pushers as competitors rather than partners.

Despite many residents preferring cart pushers due to their affordability and reliability, the Lagos State Government made LAWMA registration mandatory and later imposed a total ban on carts. Since then, waste management challenges have intensified in Lagos and its environs, worsened by poorly maintained LAWMA trucks that frequently break down and remain off the roads for weeks.

In recent weeks, waste disposal has become a serious problem. With LAWMA trucks absent and cart pushers unable to operate due to fear of arrest, bins overflowed, estates have been overwhelmed by foul odours, and residents are left without viable waste disposal options. This situation has raised major environmental and public health concerns.

CODAF team carried out an opinion sampling of some residents on their views of the recent waste management crisis and their views regarding both cart pushers (Abokis) and LAWMA within the Ojodu Berger axis. Similar complaints were received from most of the residents interviewed.

Speaking to CODAF team, Alhaja Anike Sidikat, a provision store owner, says she prefers cart pushers to LAWMA because she can easily call any of them to dispose of her waste whenever her bin is overfilled. She described them as reliable, noting that they also help wash her waste bins thoroughly, something LAWMA does not do, as their work is often rushed.

A market woman, Mrs. Iyabode Anike Ojo, who also spoke to the CODAF team, expressed her frustration over LAWMA’s inability to dispose of waste for two weeks. According to her, this led to the entire neighbourhood experiencing unpleasant odours. She stated that visitors sometimes described the area as very dirty, which was particularly upsetting because the situation was not caused by residents’ negligence.

Mr. David Lateef also expressed his displeasure, stating that the poor operational system of LAWMA trucks has raised questions about whether the fees paid are justified. He explained that waste was left unattended on the streets for weeks, forcing many residents to invite cart pushers to help reduce the excess waste and prevent further mess.

Another interviewee, Mrs. Marcelina Greg, a market woman, voiced her frustration that LAWMA cannot meet up with waste collection schedules due to the nature of her business. She noted that her waste bins are usually filled every two days, so she relies on cart pushers who charge less and respond promptly. She added that LAWMA trucks come only once a week, which would create serious waste management issues if she depended solely on them.

On his part, Executive Director of CODAF, Richard Benin, commended the Lagos State Government for its concern for the environment, as the ban on cart pushers could also be translated as a way of ensuring proper waste disposal systems in the state.

He, however, opined that an outright ban on cart pushers without proper measures to cover the vacuum left by the cart pushers may drive the state into a worsened state of environment, as now evident in some areas like Ojodu-Berger.,.

He further stated that rather than an outright ban, the state government should tilt towards properly incorporating local waste disposal systems like the cart pushers into the state management system for better services. 

He also called for proper regulation and management of LAWMA for efficiency and an accountability.