The African Clean-Up Initiative (ACI) says it has engaged 100 residents of Ijora Oloye to pick pet bottles for a cleaner city of Lagos.
Mr Alexander Akhigbe, Chief Executive Officer of African Clean-Up Initiative said on Thursday in Lagos that the initiative was undertaking in collaboration with Coca-Cola Nigeria Ltd.
Akhigbe said the initiative was also to improve the means of livelihood of the down trodden in the area, especially in this era of COVID-19 pandemic.
Akhigbe commended Coca-Cola Nigeria Ltd for increasing the earnings of those engaged in the project.
“The compensation by Coca-Cola motivated those engaged. The project has made the environment cleaner and free from flood.
“I also commend the effort of some NGOs, such as Inspired Next Initiative, Quivers Foundation, Yagazi Foundation, Weblers Foundation, among others, for providing face masks and other sanitary items to the participants,” he said.
Akhigbe said those engage would pick up the pet bottles twice a week in Ijora to prevent the plastic bottles from blocking the drains in the area.
“We also sensitise the people on the dangers of the waste to the environment.
“They understood that plastic has value, so they go around their community to encourage others to pick up pet bottles and earn little income,”Akhigbe said.
The Programme Director, Inspired Next Initiative (INI), Mr Charles Anthony, pleaded with the government at all levels to create more awareness on the dangers of blocking the drains with pet bottles.
One of the participants, Mrs Jemila Komolu, who was a cleaner with the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), said the initiative was good to prevent environmental hazards.
“The project gives me more money and I have encouraged others to participate in the exercise,” she said.