By Olasunkanmi Akoni
The Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC), popularly known as KAI, has called for increased community participation and voluntary compliance with environmental laws to build a cleaner, safer and more habitable Lagos.
The Corps Marshal, Major Olaniyi Cole (retd.), made the call on Tuesday at a stakeholders and community engagement meeting for the Lagos East and Central Senatorial Districts held at the Multipurpose Hall, Multi-Agency Safety Arena Complex, Bolade-Oshodi.
The engagement, themed, “Strengthening Environmental Sanitation Through Effective Enforcement and Stakeholder Collaboration,” brought together community leaders, market associations, transport unions, traditional institutions and representatives of government agencies.
Cole said enforcement alone could not address the state’s environmental challenges, urging residents to adopt responsible environmental practices.
He said the engagement was necessary to strengthen collaboration among stakeholders and address persistent environmental infractions across the state.
“Even in the military, stakeholder engagement is a vital tool for successful military-civilian synergy,” Cole said.
He noted that environmental sanitation was a shared responsibility requiring the active participation of government, community leaders, traders, transport operators and residents.
“At LAGESC, we firmly believe that environmental sanitation is not the sole responsibility of government.
“Compliance, when embraced by communities, reduces the need for enforcement and promotes sustainable environmental orderliness,” he said.
Cole said the Corps intensified operations throughout 2025 across highways, inner roads, markets, pedestrian bridges and public spaces to address street trading, illegal dumping, abuse of road setbacks and blockage of drainage channels.
He also reaffirmed the enforcement of the ban on Styrofoam food containers, citing their contribution to blocked drainage systems and flooding.
“Given their non-biodegradable and non-recyclable nature, Styrofoam products pose serious environmental and health risks. We therefore encourage the use of environmentally friendly alternatives,” he said.
According to him, thousands of environmental offenders were apprehended and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
“These actions are corrective, not punitive, and are aimed at instilling discipline, safeguarding public spaces, and improving compliance,” Cole added.
The Corps Marshal urged residents to patronise approved Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators, pay their waste bills promptly, embrace recycling and report environmental infractions to the appropriate authorities.
He also called on stakeholders to continue supporting the state’s waste management initiatives and work with LAGESC to improve environmental sanitation across Lagos.
“As we approach the new year, I urge all stakeholders to continue supporting the State’s smart waste management initiatives and to promptly report environmental infractions for swift response and corrective action,” he said.
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