Lagos tasks residents, traders on cleanliness, hygiene practices

LAGOS State government, yesterday, reiterated its commitment to continue to take its sanitation advocacy campaign around the state until residents imbibe the culture of good environmental and hygienic practices.

Addressing market traders/ residents at Alamutu Market, Idi- Oro, Mushin, during the community- based Sanitation Exercise/ Sensitisation, the Special Adviser on Environment, Olakunle RotimiAkodu, said maintaining a clean environment is a must for all residents, to keep all types of disease at bay.

Akodu, who was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services, Omobolaji Gaji and Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Services, Mahamood Adegbite and Managing Director of Lagos Waste Management Authority ( LAWMA), Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, had earlier engaged in cleaning the drainage on Agege Motor Road by desilting it, while a waste truck carted the dirt away.

He explained that the clean- up exercise is a followup to Mr Governor's pronouncement on community- based sanitation, saying the environment must be clean and the food handling process must be also hygienic to ensure the socio- economic wellbeing of all residents.

While addressing traders at Alamatu market on the state of the environment, Akodu reminded them that the market was shut down late last year as a result of unsanitary habits, advising the traders to clean the market and environs and heaps of refuse immediately and desist from street trading.

He said the community sanitation/ advocacy is a continuous exercise that will move across the 57 local councils/ local council development areas ( LCDAS) as well as public spaces, and markets among others.

The Permanent Secretary,

Office of Environmental Services, Dr Omobolaji Gaji, while also speaking, said the exercise was to create awareness among the residents on the importance of sanitation practices as a veritable means of controlling and preventing communicable diseases.

"If we deal with the environment properly, the environment will also treat us right and our life span will surely be increased," he said.

He charged all residents to take charge of their environment by cleaning it always and ensuring they blow the whistle when their neighbours engage in unsanitary behaviours.