Highway sweepers in Lagos State are lamenting poor working environment, lack of adequate work tools and poor remuneration as they hope the once talked about highway sweeping machines can return to government`s stable for reconsideration to save their lives.
It is not news that highway sweepers risk their lives to keep the urban areas clean. Aged between 45 and 60 years or more, their jobs expose them to the risk associated with inhaling dust, carbon pollution, and even the stench from sewage.
NatureNews reports that very recently, highway sweepers, women in their 50s and 60s were spotted on the Third Mainland bridge sweeping without caution equipment to prevent them from being knocked down.
It was observed that as vehicles raced past on high speed, the women were intermittently stopping and clinging to the pavement used to divide the bridge, out of fear and looking out for fast-moving on-coming vehicles.
Some of the sweepers who spoke to this reporter narrated that the work had not been easy for them and that they were just managing it to make ends meet. They explained that the triangular caution tool they were given to divert oncoming vehicles got smashed by motorists and they didn’t get a replacement.
“You can see how we work. You can see working here is not easy. See how reckless they drive. Our members have died on different occasions just like that. They’re the ones that are breaking our tools and we have to replace them with our money or work like that,” one of the sweepers who refused to mention her name said.
Despite a N576m contract for mechanized sweeping of highways in Lagos, roads are still being swept manually, exposing sweepers and road users to avoidable dangers on the highways.
In 2018, the Executive Secretary of Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC), Mrs. Idowu Mohammed, said the mechanised trucks would secure the lives of highway sweepers who often were victims of hit-and-run drivers.
She added that the machines would sweep the highways while sweepers would be confined to sweeping of inner streets within the community.
A document from the Public Procurement Agency (PPA), published on BUDGIT website, confirmed the three contractors who received the contract as identified by Durosinmi-Etti. According to the document, the contract was awarded to the three firms at N192 million naira each, totaling N576 million in all.
Announcing during a press conference on May 2018 that the state had appointed three contractors to manage the sweeping of highways and thoroughfares in Lagos West Senatorial District with the machine, the then Lagos State Commissioner for Environment, Babatunde Durosinmi-Etti, named the three appointed firms: Avatar Global Resources Limited; Waste Care Solutions and Resources Management; and Corporate Solutions Limited
Investigation showed that a letter of contract was issued to Avatar Global Resources Limited and Waste Care Solutions and Resources Management on July 5, 2018, while that of Corporate Solutions Limited was issued on May 7, 2018. That was during the administration of former Governor Akinwumi Ambode.
Recalling this incident only saddened the sweepers who lamented how elated they were with the news of the machine sweeper which never came to light.
“It was Ambode that brought the idea of sweeping the highways with machines that time and we were all happy about it because we were told that machines would sweep the highways while we would be made to sweep inner streets in our areas. We will be free from car fumes, dust, and reckless driving if the government can revisit that idea,” they lamented.
According to experts, the effectiveness of machine sweeping over manual sweeping of roads has been proven globally as a standard, over dehumanizing human beings.
In addition, it is preferred above manual means to safely remove dirt, debris and litter, nails, amongst others, and provides a healthy, safe, and attractive environment.
Beside the carnage arising from highway sweeping, the initiative is considered more environmental friendly given its reliability in ensuring cleaner and safer roads.
With not less than N576m awarded for the Lagos sweeping contract, findings show that the machines were only test-run in selected areas for a short period and never really worked as many sweepers never even saw the machine to relieve them. Yet they continue to fall victims of reckless driving and other health hazards.
The Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) in a report showed that between 2007 and 2010, 57 street sweepers were killed by reckless drivers while carrying out their duties. Since 2010 till now, a number of sad tales, including deaths, have been reported about street sweepers in the course of duty.
A sweeper identified as Bisi lost her life in 2015, when a vehicle knocked her off the Third Mainland Bridge to the ground.
She was killed by a military officer who was said to be on speed when his tyre burst and the vehicle somersaulted several times. The accident occurred behind Kam Salem House, the police headquarters annex at the Obalende.
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In 2014, a pregnant road sweeper, identified as Kikelomo Bamidele working with (LAWMA) was crushed to death by a petrol tanker with registration number Kano NSR 592 YQ along Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
Also, on November 3, 2018, a road sweeper was killed by a driver along Osborne Road, Ikoyi. It was reported that the driver ran over her after losing control of the vehicle, killing her instantly.
In 2019, a female sweeper was killed at her duty post at Ojuelegba, Surulere, Lagos.
In January 2020, another sweeper known as Tawa Ariyo, escaped death by a whisker, after being crushed to a stationary petrol tanker by a motorist conveying a woman said to be the wife of a soldier.
The Managing Director of LAWMA, Ibrahim Odumboni, at an event held in honour of the women, revealed that a sweeper was killed along Ikorodu road on 18, November 2020, by a hit-and-run driver.
July 2021, two sweepers, male and female were killed by a reckless driver while sweeping Jubilee bridge Abule Egba.
Insurance Protection for the Road Sweepers
The Lagos State Government said in 2020 that it had commenced an insurance policy for all street sweepers towards enhancing better welfare package and improved waste management in the state.
According to LAWMA Managing Director, Ibrahim Odumboni, who gave the announcement, the insurance policy covers, among others, death while in active service, permanent disability, and medical expenses.
All efforts to confirm if this had started and ongoing from LAWMA, proved abortive as there was no response to calls and messages sent.
Meanwhile, Sanlam Insurance Company Limited, which was formerly known as First Bank of Nigeria Insurance Ltd, has issued a call to action to high managers and street sweepers in the state of Lagos to take out insurance policies that will both protect them and provide for them and their families in the event that something unexpected happens.
Mrs. Nneka Agbo, Financial Advisor at Salam Insurance, stated in an exclusive interview with NatureNews that highway managers and street sweepers in Lagos could take out a policy called “Family SHIELD.”
According to Agbo, this policy is a risk protection policy that protects the customers and their families in the event of an accident, permanent disability, or death.
As a result of the nature of their employment, which constantly exposes them to vehicular movements on the highways, Mrs. Nneka Agbo guaranteed that the Family SHIELD coverage would continue to be the finest insurance policy for highway managers.
She went on to explain that the plan also included coverage for their children’s educational expenses.
‘‘This particular plan offers a comprehensive insurance cover in addition to an investing component, not only in case of unanticipated events but also so that parents can put money away for their children’s education despite the precarious state of the economy (education policy).
“A family SHIELD is a risk protection policy that protects the clients and their families in the event of an accident, a permanent disability, or death.
‘‘In the education plan, you get to pick the monthly premium that is most affordable for you.’’ She said.
Explaining further, she explained that the annual cost for family shield is a minimum of ten thousand Naira only.
‘‘These policies come highly recommended to the Highway managers and street sweepers.’ She said.
She claimed that the company has remained the recipient of the award for best insurance company in the sector for the past five years.
“Even if the government can’t enrol them, they should enlist themselves, as it is highly vital.” She said.
