Environment
Traders Protest Against AEPB
Traders at the popular UTC market in Abuja held a peaceful protest last Thursday following the closure of the market by officials of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB).
The Tide reports that the traders were prevented from entering the market, located in Area 10, Garki, Abuja.
Some of the traders told our source that the board sealed-off the premises because of the non-evacuation of the refuse they generated.
Some of the placards carried by the traders, who chanted slogans, read “ this evil and injustices must end” and “those behind this evil will die”.
The Chairman of UTC market, Mr. Chukwu Francis told The Tide that the AEPB shut down the market on Thursday without any verbal or written notice.
He said the service charge being paid by the traders was outrageous, compared to what their counterparts in other markets were paying.
“The problem at hand is because of service charge; we have been given a certain bill to pay that we consider scandalous.
“Some shops were asked to pay N190,000 as service charge, others N135,000, while the least is N65,000 per annum. This is more than what our counterparts in other markets pay.’’
Francis, however, said that as a result of negotiation between the market executives and the Abuja Market Management Limited, 80 per cent of traders had paid their service charge out of fear.
“It is the 20 per cent that has not paid that prompted them to shut down the market.
“AEPB locked up the market because the law establishing it empowers it to seal off any environment found to be dirty,’’ he said.
Francis said that when the traders brought a truck to evacuate the waste AEPB refused the truck entry.
“They told us that if we can bring a truck to evacuate the waste they will allow us to go back to our shops; we brought a truck but they refused to allow us to evacuate the refuse,’’
“It is an act of injustices to lock up our business premises at this time when everybody is making fast sales.’’
The Chairman of the Printers Association, Mr. Gabriel Adediji claimed that the service charge was being increased yearly, adding that AEPB should have locked up the shops of those who had refused to pay instead of shutting down the whole market.
Adediji said that the traders had been denied their source of livelihood, adding that the closure would make it difficult for his members to meet the orders that had been placed for various work.
The Deputy Director, Environmental Health and Safety (AEPB), Mr. Uche Agbanusi told the Tide that the market was shut down because the traders had refused to pay up their service charge.
Agbanusi said the market would remain shut until the traders pay up their bills, adding “the only way we can make them pay their bill is to shut down the premises’’.
“Even if it is only few traders that have not paid, the premises will remain shut until all of them pay up.’’
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) on Thursday, launched an awareness campaign, aimed at educating residents on the increasing impact of climate change.
The campaign also seeks to enlighten residents on the urgent need for personal and community protection measures.
During the launch in Uyo on Thursday, the Akwa Ibom Director of NOA, Mr Mkpoutom Mkpoutom, said that the campaign aims at enlightening residents, about the changes in weather patterns.
He said that this includes unpredictable rise in temperatures, and how these changes threaten public health across the state.
Mkpoutom noted that the current weather was not harmattan, but an extreme form of air pollution, which is harmful to health as it could cause oxidative stress which affects body balance.
“Our environment is changing rapidly, and the effects are evident in the disruptions faced by our communities.
“It is paramount that every citizen of Akwa Ibom understands these changes and take necessary steps to protect themselves, their families, and their livelihoods,” he said.
He appealed to citizens to take the following precautions which include wearing of nose mask, drinking sufficient water, covering of food and water to keep away dust, washing fruits thoroughly before eating, among others.
He directed all NOA structures within the state to engage with local communities through town hall meetings and collaboration.
He also urged engagement with schools and community leaders, to disseminate vital information on early warning signs, as well as safety protocols during extreme weather conditions.
The Chairman of Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State, Ms Surah Animashaun, has urged traders of Aiyetoro and Oluwo fish markets to consistently ensure a hygienic trading environment.
She urged the traders to maintain cleanliness and observe proper environmental sanitation in the markets.
Animashaun said this during a visit to some of the market areas in Epe on Saturday.
She said that clean markets were critical to public health.According to her, poor sanitation could lead to the outbreak of communicable diseases, especially in fish markets, where waste management must be handled with extra care.
The council chairman urged traders to dispose of refuse appropriately, avoid indiscriminate dumping of waste, and ensure regular cleaning of stalls and surroundings
She noted that environmental hygiene is a collective responsibility, adding that everyone should be involved in this development.
Animashaun also warned that the local government would not hesitate to enforce existing environmental laws, including sanctions against defaulters.
She assured traders of the council’s commitment to providing adequate waste disposal facilities and regular monitoring to sustain a clean and healthy market environment.
The council boss also urged traders to desist from selling by the roadside, so as to avoid accidents, noting that several motor accidents had occurred along the Aiyetoro market area.
“We, therefore, urge traders to stop selling on the roadside,” she said.
President, Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Mrs Margaret Oguntala, has inaugurated the construction of 18 units residential terrace in highbrow Alausa area of Lagos toward bridging the nation’s shelter gap.
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