Banire stated this while responding to journalists’ questions after a briefing on the activities of the agency and what he described as the perceived erroneous impression of the public about it.
He said KAI, at present had a total staff strength of 1,050 that monitors sanitation in 10 local government areas where the state government had declared zero tolerance and wished to serve as model to others.
“These KAI officials concentrate their activities on Apapa, Surulere, Lagos Mainland, Somolu, Kosofe , Eti-Osa and four others which this administration wants to make as role models for others between 2007 and 2011.
“If KAI officials must operate in other local government areas outside these 10, it must be with the approval of the higher authorities in the Ministry of the Environment,’’ he explained.
Banire confirmed that some KAI officials found wanting in the course of discharging their responsibilities had been dismissed while others had absconded. “Nine KAI officials had been dismissed , five under prosecution while some members of the public that impersonated KAI officials and issuing various abatement notices had been apprehended,’’ he said.
The Commissioner however debunked claims by some traders trading at illegal trading posts that the KAI officials converted goods confiscated from them into personal use. “Such culprits arrested by KAI officials are usually prosecuted in mobile courts across the state and perishable goods seized from them are sent to orphanage homes.
“Those seized goods that are not perishable are auctioned after six months of seizure and not claimed by the owners. About N300, 000.00 had been realized by the agency from seized goods that were not perishable through public auctions,’’ he explained.
He also reiterated that street trading on the highways in the state was still an offence adding that the KAI officials would not take kindly to it either during the day or at night.
