Chaotic Lagos Launches Bid to Spruce Up Image
The government of Lagos State, which covers the metropolis of some 13 million people, unveiled a garbage transfer facility that it says will enable it to clean up the streets of Africa's most chaotic and polluted city.
Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar commissioned the facility, which stores garbage collected by vans during the day so it can be transported to dumps by larger trucks during the night when the streets are less congested.
Abubakar said the transfer station was long overdue and that similar systems would be introduced in 14 other cities across the West African country.
"The practice of open dumping of refuse in the streets has resulted in increases in the spread of disease, air pollution, and contamination of our ground water," he said.
"This facility will help us make sure the city is clean and healthy; that is our ultimate goal."
Goats and horses feeding on heaps of garbage on the sides of city streets are a common sight in Lagos.
The $900,000 facility was paid for by the state government and the World Bank. In a day it can process up to 800 cubic meters of waste.
To service the station the state government also bought 40 new garbage trucks and four 60-ton trailers for hauling the garbage away.
Until now garbage trucks had to travel through densely populated districts each time they filled their bins, often spending the whole day sitting in gridlock traffic.
"The old system was very horrible," Lagos State Waste Management Authority spokesman Kayode Sutton said. "You'd see heaps of refuse all over Lagos, but they will be able to reduce that to a high extent."
Musicians and praise singers in colorful robes gave the commissioning ceremony a carnival look.
A radio, television and print media campaign urging Nigerians to "stop dirty habits" had been running days earlier. Brightly colored posters hanging on the walls of the facility warned anyone caught using the roads as a public toilet would face heavy fines or imprisonment.
(Reuter)