The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has distributed Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits to its sweepers and PSP operators across the State to protect them from infection in the course of their duties.
Speaking at the presentation of the materials at LAWMA Headquarters, Ijora, the Managing Director, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, noted that the move was in compliance with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s directive that all necessary steps be taken to arrest the further spread of Coronavirus.
“We are kitting our sweepers and PSP operators as we have always done, in line with the directive of the Incident Commander, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who has repeatedly stressed that all precautionary measures must be taken to curb the spread of Coronavirus,” Gbadegesin stated.
He spoke further saying, “We also have over 15,000 sweepers and 4,000 waste handlers working with private PSP operators, and they all must be adequately and properly protected from infection. Our move is also in line with the instructions of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) that all preventive measures must be taken”.
Dr. Gbadegesin urged the sweepers and PSP operators, being essential duty officers, to work throughout the stay-at-home period to keep the city clean, adding that additional measures such as sanitisation and disinfection of LAWMA operational depots, dumpsites, transfer loading stations and waste bins, will be taken to make the environment clean and healthy.
In his remarks, the President, Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria and Chairman of Lagos State Chapter, Mr. David Oriyomi, thanked LAWMA and the State government for the protective items, promising that they would be put to good use, while also urging other States to emulate the Lagos example.
The items distributed included hand sanitisers, liquid soap, safety goggles, rubber work gloves, and re-useable nose masks among others.
