Environment
Residents Accuse Refuse Collectors Of lllegal Action
Residents and shop
owners in Solomon Grace area of Abule Egba, Lagos have accused the private sector participant in waste evacuation assigned to the area by the Lagos Waste Management Authority of locking up their shops in contravention of laid down regulations.
Some of the people, said their shops were locked for several days because they failed to pay the required service charge to the PSP Operator. Oye Balogum Enterprises.
Mrs. Florence Adegothe, one of the affected shop owners, told our correspondent on that day, she got to her shop early for the day’s business but was later ordered out by men who claimed to have to collect the money for the refuse dispose for the previous month.
She said, “I opened my shop by 7 am that Monday that some men came and just chased me out of the shop and locked it with a padlocked, while I stood by and watched.
“The shop was left that way for three days until I was able to pay the money. I sell yam, potatoes and vegetables, and by the time they opened the shop, all my goods, especially the vegetables, were rotten. I owed them N3,200 but I was made to pay an extra N500 to get the key to open my shop”, she added.
The residents said they had earlier been served a notice indicating an increase in the monthly service charge from N200 to N300.
“Some of us on ground here don’t generate refuse, so, I really don’t know what we are paying for or why the money was increased”, Mr. Fatai Oguntade, told our correspondent.
He claimed to have also met a padlock on his door that day and was only able to gain access to the shop after he was made to pay the N2,400 debt and an extra N500 for defaulting into the company’s account with a first generation bank.
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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