The Lagos State Government has said it will commence full enforcement of the ban on use and distribution of Styrofoam food containers in the state from Monday.
The state’s commissioner for the environment and water resources, Tokunbo Wahab disclosed on Friday at the Blue Roof of the Lagos Television at a meeting with market leaders.
He added that enforcement officers from LAGESC/KAI, Environmental Health Officials and LAWMA Police and the Ministry will go after all those having the styrofoams in their shops, stores or outlets and confiscate them.
Wahab emphasized that styrofoam usage had caused enough damage to the health of the residents and the state of the environment for so many years and that government is determined to encourage viable option for Styrofoam containers across the metropolis.
He appealed to market leaders to be reminded that cleanliness is next to Godliness and as such they must ensure that a clean environment remains a priority always.
He added that the government is disturbed with the unhygienic habits in most of the markets across the state hence leading to the recent closure of some markets across the state.
He explained that government derives no pleasure in closing peoples’ businesses, emphasizing that some markets were in a sorry state because of the non challant attitude of the markets executives.
He also mentioned that there were recent reports that government officials were attacked whenever they visited markets to ascertain the sanitary levels and enforce environmental laws in the market.
“I will like to appeal to all our traders to desist from selling on the railway lines and all the roads. Also, we must stop littering our market with wastes. We must segregate our wastes in our respective markets; bag our wastes and ensure we patronize PSP operators”.
He stressed that in a few weeks time, the state government would commission the Red Rail line that is expected to operate from dusk till dawn adding that trading activities on the railway lines is very risky and could lead to loss of lives.
Earlier in his remarks, the Special Adviser on Environment, Mr. Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu charged market leaders with the responsibility of ensuring cleanliness in their respective market places stressing, that selling on the roads should be discouraged by all.
He added that it had been observed that some illegal markets now appoint splinter leaders, leader for the main market and another for roadside traders saying this illegal acts must be discouraged as it is against the environmental laws of the state.
He called on markets leaders to ensure that they have functional public toilets in their markets to curb menace of open defecation that can pollute the environment as well as desist from indiscriminate dumping of refuse in the markets.
Also in his welcome address, the Managing Director, Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegeshin noted that the meeting became necessary to outline the position of government on effective waste management in all markets, in line with the THEMES plus Agenda of the present administration.
He recalled that last year, the government embarked on zero tolerance for filth and indiscriminate waste disposal in markets, road medians, business facilities and unauthorised locations around the state, saying that the objective is to make Lagos a clean and healthy city, livable for all.
“I must note again, that all government’s effort in the area of effective waste management, is to build a people-friendly environment, that guarantees happiness and good health for all residents” he said.
In her response, the Iyaloja General, Mrs. Folasade Tinubu-Ojo represented by the Iya-oja, Lagos Island, Mrs. Risikat Abeje Lasisi said that they will ensure that market sanitation continues as a daily task that all market leaders will adopt.
She assured that the association was ready to cooperate with the State government to adopt all methods proposed by the government to ensure cleanliness in all markets and it’s environs.
