Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has responded to an open letter sent to him by Nigerian foremost rapper, Michael Ugochukwu Stephens, professionally known as Ruggedman.

The 45-year-old Ohafia, Abia State-born Political Science graduate from Lagos State University on Wednesday wrote to the governor demanding explanations over a viral video which showed purported state uniformed officials asking commercial bus drivers in the state to buy only one approved waste basket for their vehicles at the cost of N3,500.

The letter with headline: “Does Lagos State have an authorised waste basket?” posted on his Instagram page read:

“Dear governor @jidesanwoolu, I only write to get confirmation about this video that is about to go viral.

“These men from Lagos State waste basket are confidently saying that Lagos State Government has an authorised “waste basket” for vehicles that they are charging motorists N3500 for. That you (sic) cannot have any other waste basket but the one you authorised.

“I do not want to believe this is happening with all the hardship on citizens. I do not want to call them names yet, because of your humble office they represent.

“We hope to get clarification on this soon because if this is so, it can overflow to there being authorised brooms, cups and spoons.”

Ostensibly responding to Ruggedy Baba’s open letter on Thursday (yesterday), Governor Sanwo-Olu, through his Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tunji Bello, in a statement said the persons in the viral video were fraudsters who do not represent the government or any of its agencies.

He affirmed that there is no unit or agency under the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources – Lagos State Vehicle Waste Basket (LAVWAB) Enforcement/Compliance as portrayed in the branded vehicle which the fraudsters claim to be representing.

While noting that the government had always encouraged all buses, trucks and articulated vehicles to provide wastebaskets in their vehicles to discourage littering of the roads and streets, Bello maintained that the present administration has never recommended any branded wastebasket.

Just hope this explanation by the state government goes down well with Mr controversial aka Opomulero, the star who has performed worldwide alongside international acts such as Sean Paul, Wyclef Jean, Akon, Maxi Priest, Kanye West, LL Cool J, T-Pain, and Nas.