Speeches

Commissioning Of Transfer Loading Station Equipment At Simpson, Lagos

Mar 19, 2009 - It is no longer news that Lagos, our dear State is inching progressively towards its application as the Centre of Excellence in terms of cleanliness.

This is the story on the lips of visitors and residents alike. Our City and State have been renewed to centres of best practice and have become what other cities and States aspire to be.

This has happened because of the vision of the leadership and the unyielding support of Lagosians to reach deep down once again to do what was thought impossible. I thank you all for this support which is our greatest inspiration.

I place on record today my deep debt of gratitude to the Management and staff of Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), our PSP operators and all our street sweepers who toil day and night in pursuit of our objective to keep Lagos clean. Of course, we are still on a journey and will not lose focus or rest on our oars.

You will re-call that during the electioneering campaign, I explained to all Lagosians that part of the problems with solid waste management in the State was that the refuse trucks were old and that they also had to operate in the chaotic Lagos traffic situation.

I also explained that our solution to improve the turn- around time of truck trips was to build Transfer Loading Stations, where the refuse could be dumped during the day, compacted to small volumes and then moved at night with fewer vehicles when the traffic has eased off.

I am delighted to be here today to commission the first of a series of Transfer Loading Stations built in fulfilment of the promise I made to Lagosians.

The new Transfer Loading Station is equipped with a static Hydraulic Compactor (BLOK-PAK 3000) which densify the waste into logs for onward transfer to the final deposit site. It has the capacity of storing and treating a minimum 600 metric tonnes of waste per day and at full capacity 1000 metric tones. This translated into a lay man’s language means 20 and 33 trailer loads of waste respectively.

It is also equipped with 9 trailers hoists, 18 trailer trucks, 6 static compactor hoists and 30 static compactor bins for collection of waste within the business district of the metropolis.

In terms of employment, more than 200 people worked on the rehabilitation of this facility. They include Engineers (civil, mechanical and electrical), artisans of various vocations and labour. The facility upon commencement of operations would employ a minimum of 70 staff comprising drivers, supervisors, securities, pay loader operators and labour.

Although the traffic in Lagos has significantly improved with the BRT and other management efforts, I have directed that after the commissioning of Simpson, civil works should commence immediately at Marini, Oshodi after which Ogombo Transfer Loading Station would be built.

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, your Government remains committed to fulfilling the promises made to you. The other side of the coin is for you to play your part.

We have prohibited cart pushers from operating in our State because they compound the problem rather than solve it. We have offered willing cart pushers job opportunities within our waste management structure which a number of them have taken up and there is room for more. We require you only to refuse to patronize them and use the registered PSP Operators and pay your waste collection bills.

This facility has no place for cart pushers. It was designed for the type of waste collection trucks used by PSP Operators that operate in any modern city. It was built with your taxes and I urge you all to make our money work for us by patronising only PSP Operators.

Towards improving Lagos environment through efficient solid waste management, I am therefore pleased to commission this Transfer Loading Station to the glory of God and a safe, clean Lagos.

Eko o ni baje o!

Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN
Governor of Lagos State