Lagos preaches environmental hygiene on World Clean-Up day

  • Idera market shut over filth

By Oyebola Owolabi

The Lagos State government has urged residents, market men and women, artisans, NGOs and commercial establishments to prioritise environmental cleanliness to prevent diseases.

Special Adviser on Environment to the governor, Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu made the appeal today at the commemoration of the 2024 World Clean – up Day at Bada Community, Oshodi/Isolo Local Government Area. He encouraged residents to continue with the exercise voluntarily. The event was themed ‘Make Room for Life’.

He described the event as a global exercise, saying residents should inculcate cleanliness and refrain from blaming the government when there is flood.

“Good Sanitation practices is not an individual responsibility, but a collective responsibility for everyone to take action. Residents cannot continue to accuse the government whereas they continually dump their waste in drainages. This is why this event is a clarion call for all to embrace good sanitation habits.

“Dirty environments promote the spread of diseases such as diarrhea, malaria, typhoid, and so the government is doing this clean up to encourage residents to regular cleaning of their environment.”

Director of Sanitation Services in the ministry, Dr. Hassan Sanuth, said every September 19 is set aside by the United Nations (UN) to carry out thorough cleaning and sanitation of our environment.

“I encourage us to put in dedication by continuing with this exercise, as this is a clarion call to key into the vision of Mr Governor to improve the aesthetics of our state, promote our tourism potential and improve the economy,” he added.

Iyaloja General of Oshodi/Isolo, Mrs. Sekinat Ejide Adeyanju, thanked the government for the initiative and promised that market men and women would continue with the good environmental sanitation practises.

The team earlier cleaned up Peluola Street, Bada Community, Mafoluku Oshodi and sealed up Oja -Oke, Idera Market on Baderin Street, for various unsanitary activities.

The government also shut the Idera Market in the Oshodi-Isolo LCDA for being dirty.

Corps Marshal of the Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps, popularly known as KAI, Maj. Olaniyi Olatunbosun (rtd), said ‘the market stinks’.

He said: “We shut Idera market because it stinks. They have probably not cleared the drainages for over one year and everywhere was smelly. So we shut the market based on the commissioner’s directive. And when they are ready to do the proper thing, the market will be reopened. It might take days or weeks, but it has to be clean.

“Though they complained of ineffective PSP operators in clearing their waste, but we found out that they most likely don’t even patronise the PSP operators. Beside, Idera is not the only market in the Oshodi area so let them do the right thing by cleaning their space and the market will be reopened.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

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