Stakeholders Seek Effective Waste Management, Enforcement of Building Regulations, Disability Inclusion
By Ndukwe Edward
The 6th Legislative Council of Ifelodun Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Lagos, has held a public hearing on five proposed bye-laws aimed at strengthening environmental management, public order, social inclusion and good governance in the council area.
The public hearing, held on Thursday, September 17, 2026, at the 6th legislative chamber, provided an opportunity for residents, community leaders, traditional rulers, political leaders, security agencies, professional groups, market associations, youth and women groups and other stakeholders to examine the proposed legislation and make recommendations before their consideration by the council.
The engagement was designed to ensure that the proposed laws reflect the practical realities and needs of communities within Ifelodun LCDA and provide effective legal frameworks for sustainable development, peace and orderly administration.
The five proposed bills placed before the stakeholders covered the adoption of a new official logo for the LCDA; prohibition and enforcement of scavenging activities in residential areas; obstruction of public roads, streets, drainages and rights-of-way during construction and renovation; proper disposal of refuse and related environmental matters; and protection of the rights of persons with disabilities within the LCDA.
Declaring the hearing open on behalf of the Executive Chairman, Mayor Olufemi Akanbi Okeowo, who was said to be away on official assignment, the Vice Chairman, Alhaja (Hon.) Adetoun Ojora-Adejiyan, welcomed participants and said the exercise was focused on developing legislative measures capable of improving the quality of life of residents.
She urged stakeholders to participate meaningfully and make constructive contributions that would serve the collective interest of the council area.
In his introductory remarks, the Leader of the House, Hon. Elijah Oluwatosin Ilesanmi (JP), said the Legislative Council had undertaken considerable preparations to make the public hearing possible.
Ilesanmi stressed the importance of allowing residents and other relevant stakeholders to participate in the legislative process, particularly because the proposed laws would have direct implications for the environment, public spaces, community order, governance and the welfare of residents.
He urged participants to make constructive and respectful submissions, assuring them that relevant contributions would receive due legislative consideration.
The Deputy Leader of the 6th Legislative Council and Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee on the Proposed Bills, Hon. Sarumi Adekola Jide, said the proposed legislation was intended to provide practical legal frameworks for protecting residents’ interests, promoting peace and order and supporting the development of Ifelodun LCDA.
He emphasised that stakeholder participation was necessary to ensure that the proposed laws adequately reflected realities in the communities.
The council’s Legal Officer, Mr. Olaleye, took participants through the five bills and explained their objectives and the issues they were designed to address, while the Chief Whip of the 6th Legislative Council, Hon. Adeola Wasiu Adebayo, provided further explanations on some of the provisions and considerations surrounding the proposed laws.
Waste management bill
One of the proposed laws seeks to establish an effective and sustainable system for the collection, handling, transportation and disposal of refuse within the LCDA.
The proposal also seeks to define responsibilities for residents, businesses and waste handlers, encourage public awareness and community participation, promote compliance with approved waste disposal arrangements and discourage indiscriminate dumping.
Contributing to the discussion, the Ifelodun APC Chairman, Babalola Owegbe, said waste-bin collection had not been effective in the LCDA for almost six years.
He called for the reactivation of Private Sector Participation (PSP) operations as an initial step towards addressing waste management challenges in the council area.
The stakeholders also urged those responsible for waste management to improve their operations, while the House Committee on Works was urged to intensify its oversight responsibilities.
Proposed new LCDA logo
Another bill seeks legal backing for the change, adoption, approval, registration and official use of a new logo for Ifelodun LCDA Government.
The proposed legislation is intended to provide a legal framework for the adoption and use of the logo as an official symbol of the council’s identity, reflecting its history, values, aspirations, unity and commitment to development and the wellbeing of residents.
However, the Ifelodun G17 Apex political leadership group Secretary Hon. Lateef Lamina, advised the Assembly to consult stakeholders before effecting any change to the existing logo.
Lamina said extensive deliberations had preceded the adoption of the existing logo and cautioned that failure to adequately consult stakeholders could result in successive administrations changing the symbol whenever there was a change of government.
He also raised a broader legal issue, noting that some of the proposed laws were already covered by existing state legislation and that care should be taken to avoid conflicts between LCDA bye-laws and state laws, which he noted would prevail where applicable.
Road, drainage and right-of-way obstruction
The proposed legislation on obstruction of roads, streets, drainage channels and rights-of-way seeks to regulate the placement of building materials, debris, machinery and temporary structures during construction and renovation works.
According to the proposal, the law would provide enforcement measures and penalties for unlawful obstruction while regulating how construction materials are stored and used in public spaces.
Lamina, while contributing to the discussion, urged the council to examine the role of its officials in approving the placement of materials on roads and other public spaces.
He said there were instances where sand or gravel blocking roads was reportedly placed there with the knowledge or approval of persons within the LCDA, and stressed that the proposed law should apply equally to all residents.
He also called for proper oversight of construction-related activities by the council manager or council engineer.
Disability rights
Another proposed bill seeks to domesticate and implement provisions protecting the rights of persons with disabilities within Ifelodun LCDA.
The proposed law is intended to establish a legal and institutional framework for equality, accessibility, equal opportunity and non-discrimination, while enabling persons with disabilities to participate fully in social, economic and community activities.
Lamina called for disability inclusion to begin within the council’s own administrative environment, saying persons with disabilities should have access to all parts of the council secretariat and other relevant facilities.
Scavenging activities
The fifth proposed bill seeks to prohibit and criminalise unauthorised scavenging activities within Ifelodun LCDA and establish enforcement mechanisms, including lawful seizure of materials and articles collected in violation of the proposed law.
Under the proposal, unauthorised scavengers would be prohibited from removing or collecting materials from refuse dumps, waste containers, public spaces, construction sites and other locations without the required authority.
The proposed measure formed part of the broader environmental and public-order concerns considered at the hearing.
Council explains implementation process
The Council Manager, Mr. Azeez Saheed Abiodun, explained the administrative and procedural requirements for turning the proposed bills into enforceable bye-laws.
He said the process would require compliance with due procedures, including obtaining necessary approvals from the state government and other relevant institutions where required.
He also responded to questions from stakeholders on the implementation and institutional processes surrounding the proposed legislation.
Other issues raised
The stakeholders also raised issues beyond the five proposed bills.
One of the Community Development Council (CDC) chairmen, Alhaji Lanre Okuade, suggested that the council should consider a legal time frame for the completion of uncompleted buildings, noting that abandoned structures could become hideouts for criminals.
He also drew attention to the need for legislation regulating the activities of commercial motorcycles, popularly known as okada, within the LCDA.
The submissions underscored the need for the proposed legislation to address practical challenges confronting residents while also ensuring that enforcement is transparent and applicable to all.
The Council Clerk, Mrs. Saidat Adetayo Odubona-Oyewale, thanked stakeholders for attending the hearing and contributing to the legislative process.
She described their participation as an important step towards building a greater Ifelodun LCDA and called for continued cooperation and constructive engagement between the Legislative Arm and stakeholders.
The hearing was attended by members of the 6th Legislative Council, including Hon. Safiu Taoreed Aderemi, Hon. Ajibola Ojora-Adejiyan and Hon. Yusuph Ajibola, as well as members of the Executive Committee, heads of departments and units, NULGE representatives, royal fathers and traditional rulers, religious and party leaders, community development leaders, professional bodies, market men and women, and youth and women groups.
Other dignitaries included Alhaji Lanre Okuade, CDC chairman; Divisional Police Officers from Layeni and Amukoko police stations; representatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), NSCDC, ISN, ward chairmen, traditional rulers, market associations and professional groups.
The public hearing ultimately provided the Legislative Council with stakeholder observations and recommendations to consider as it proceeds with the legislative process.
The council said the contributions would form part of its consideration of the proposed measures as it works towards developing bye-laws capable of supporting good governance, environmental responsibility, public order, inclusion, community development and an improved quality of life for residents of Ifelodun LCDA.
