Ijede Local Council Development Area (LCDA), under the leadership of Hon. Motunrayo Gbadebo Alogba, hosted a stakeholders’ meeting on the Monthly Environmental Sanitation Exercise and the Lagos State Health Insurance Scheme (ILERA EKO), in partnership with the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA).

The meeting brought together representatives of the council, LASHMA, the National Orientation Agency (NOA), environmental-health officials, traditional institutions, youth representatives and other community stakeholders to strengthen public awareness, encourage environmental responsibility and promote wider enrolment in the state’s health-insurance programme.

Representing the Chairman of Ijede LCDA, Hon. Motunrayo Gbadebo Alogba, the Chief of Staff, Mr. Abdulateef Abdulraheem, called for stronger collaboration among the council, government agencies, traditional institutions, community leaders and residents in addressing environmental and public-health challenges across Ijede.

He emphasised the need for proper waste disposal, drainage maintenance, environmental cleanliness and compliance with sanitation regulations, while also highlighting the importance of bringing information about the Lagos State Health Insurance Scheme, ILERA EKO, closer to residents. He encouraged LASHMA, council departments and community stakeholders to support public awareness and wider registration.

The Chairman reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to grassroots development and inter-agency collaboration, urging Community Development Associations, traditional institutions, youth groups and residents to support environmental sanitation, protect public infrastructure, promote healthy living and disseminate information about ILERA EKO/ILERA IBILE within their communities.

The Permanent Secretary of LASHMA, Dr. Emmanuela Zamba, was represented at the meeting by the Head of Customer Services, LASHMA, Mr. Lanre Green, who provided information on the scheme and engaged stakeholders on the importance of reaching residents at the grassroots.

The sensitisation focused on improving public understanding of health-insurance registration and encouraging stakeholders to support efforts to get more residents enrolled. Stakeholders were encouraged to take the information into their communities and help residents understand the relevance of health insurance and the processes associated with registration.

Discussions also referenced the Executive Order signed by Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on July 16, 2025, in relation to the state’s health-insurance drive.

According to the presentation at the meeting, the initiative involves collaboration and outreach across the 57 Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas (LG/LCDAs) of Lagos State to facilitate wider registration of residents.

The environmental sanitation component of the meeting covered waste disposal, drainage, environmental cleanliness, public health and compliance with environmental regulations.

The Supervisor for Environment, Hon. Fashola A., was among the council officials involved in the environmental component of the engagement.

Stakeholders emphasised that maintaining a clean and healthy environment requires collective responsibility. Residents, landlords, community associations, traditional institutions and local leaders all have roles to play in ensuring proper waste management and preventing activities that could compromise environmental health.

Attention was also drawn to sanitation compliance and the consequences or penalties applicable to offenders, reinforcing the need for residents to understand and comply with existing environmental regulations.

Participants were encouraged to properly dispose of waste, keep drainage channels free from obstruction and maintain clean surroundings.

Traditional and community leaders also featured prominently in the meeting, reflecting the importance of grassroots leadership in communicating government policies. The Baale of Oke-Eletu and the Chairman of all Baales in Ijede were among the traditional leadership stakeholders associated with the meeting.

Their participation provided an avenue for the sanitation and health messages to reach residents through established community structures.

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) was also represented at the meeting. The NOA goodwill message was delivered by Mrs. Ologunagba Adejoke, who, alongside other staff of NOA, joined other stakeholders in emphasising the importance of effective public information and national participation.

Other council officials and representatives who participated included the Supervisor on Health, Hon. Adijah Amusa, who also delivered a goodwill message, and the HOD of Environmental Services, Ijede LCDA, Mrs. Olorunshola Christiana, who addressed the gathering with a goodwill message.

The Ijede LCDA Coordinator of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Comr. Bello Idris, also delivered a goodwill message, bringing a youth perspective to the stakeholder meeting and further broadening community-based support for the sanitation and health-insurance initiatives.

A question-and-answer session formed part of the meeting, allowing participants to interact directly with officials and seek clarification on issues surrounding environmental sanitation and ILERA EKO.

The discussions covered public awareness, health-insurance registration, environmental responsibilities and the role of community stakeholders in supporting government programmes.

The Council Leader, Hon. Basirat Kehinde, delivered the vote of thanks, appreciating the participating agencies, council officials, traditional leaders, youth representatives and other stakeholders for their contributions to the meeting.

The Supervisor on Information, Mrs. Tijani Tawakalitu Oluwakemi, delivered the closing prayer.

The programme also featured the participation of the Council Manager, Engr. Orelesi A., alongside other council representatives and stakeholders.

The Ijede LCDA stakeholders’ meeting underscored the close relationship between environmental management and public health. Proper waste disposal, clean surroundings, effective drainage management and compliance with environmental regulations remain central to maintaining healthy communities, while increased awareness and registration under ILERA EKO can strengthen residents’ access to organised healthcare financing.

By bringing together LASHMA, Ijede LCDA officials, NOA, traditional institutions, youth representatives and community stakeholders, the meeting created a platform for information sharing and grassroots mobilisation.

The stakeholders are expected to take the messages from the meeting back to their respective communities, encouraging residents to maintain clean environments, comply with sanitation regulations and obtain relevant information about ILERA EKO/ILERA IBILE registration.

The meeting reinforced the importance of government-community partnership in building cleaner, healthier and better-informed communities across Ijede LCDA and Lagos State.