The Lagos State Commissioner for Environment, Dr Babatunde Adejare has revealed government’s plans to stop the restriction of peoples’ movement during the monthly environmental sanitation by end of 2016.
He said, “Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, in line with his responsive government policy, hopes to discontinue restriction of movement during the monthly environmental sanitation exercise.”
Dr. Adejare disclosed that the governor believed that as the fifth biggest economy in Africa, Lagos State should function round the clock, adding that the government could no longer afford to keep shutting down the mega city because of sanitation.
He revealed that the state had earlier issued a seven-day notice, effective from Thursday, to some markets across the state for violating environmental laws.
The markets were: Sura, Itafaji, Oke-Odo, Sangrouse, Bariga, Ajah Ultra-Modern, Agbalaka, Aiyetoro, Sabo and Ita-elewa in Ikorodu. They would be shut if traders failed to comply with relevant laws regarding sanitation.
He pointed out that in spite of continuous advocacy, enlightenment and appeals, some market leaders and traders had been violating the extant laws on the environment.
“The state will no longer allow a few bad eggs hiding under the guise of making a living to compromise the health and safety of the greater law-abiding majority who may unjustly suffer the likely outbreak of diseases and flooding of their homes,” he said.
Adejare further affirmed the government’s zero tolerance for street trading and all environmental abuses that would hinder the state’s cleanliness up to a level comparable with its peers anywhere in the world.
