Lagos State government has warned market leaders across the state against jeopardising efforts in averting flooding, saying any market found indiscriminately dumping waste to block drainages will be shut down.
The state gave the warning at a one-day seminar organised by the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO) in collaboration with the state Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs.
Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Dr. Wale Ahmed and his counterpart, Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tunji Bello, who was represented by the permanent secretary of the ministry, Mr. Belinda Odeneye tasked market women and men on proper hygiene.
Ahmed in his welcome address stressed the need to revisit the issue of market sanitation and security, considering the increase in population and waste generation in the state.
“The advantages of sanitation in our markets cannot be exhausted, considering the fact that we have three hundred and eighty-two registered markets in Lagos State,” he said.
In her keynote address, chairperson of COWLSO and wife of the state governor, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, emphasised the importance of hygiene and cleanliness in the market place, which according to her would promote a healthy environment.
“We know that a lot of waste is generated from our markets and as market leaders, it is important that we seize this opportunity to appeal to our market men and women to do away with unhygienic practices including indiscriminate dumping of waste, blocking of drainages and street trading, among others.
“The truth of the matter is that it is in our collective interest to imbibe international best practices in administering markets and protect our environment,” she concluded.
