Cholera: Government threatens to shut markets over poor sanitation
As the country battles to contain the outbreak of cholera, the government of Ogun State threatened on Sunday that it would shut down any market in the state with poor waste disposal or sanitation.
The Special Adviser and Managing Director of the Ogun State Waste Management Authority, Abayomi Hunye, handed out the threat at a meeting held with the executives and members of the Ogun State Association of Market Men and Women in Abeokuta.
Hunye, according to a statement on Sunday, said the present period when the country was battling to overcome the outbreak of cholera called for proper waste disposal and general cleanliness in all markets.
He said markets remained the rallying points for purchase of all commodities such as foodstuffs, fruits, among other items, must, therefore, be sparkling clean at all times so as not to be breeding grounds for contagious diseases like cholera.
Hunye said, “In Ogun State, the government has provided big waste collection bins in most of the markets with some serviced by the PSP Operators, so the traders in various markets have no reason not to properly dispose of their waste.
“However, some of the traders with their market leaders are still dumping their waste in their immediate surroundings, especially in drainage channels, in front of their shops or stalls, thereby blocking them, which will lead to unnecessary erosion when it rains and creates offensive odour in the market space.
“To make matters worse, some markets create illegal dumpsites within their space, especially at the back of the markets, which have become havens for rodents, vectors, and flies that feed and perch on the commodities that they sell to the public.
“These illegal dumpsites aside from aiding the spread of diseases also lead to fire outbreaks in markets notably that of Lafenwa Market in Abeokuta months back.
“So the state government will not allow such issues to happen in any of its markets, hence, the need for proper waste disposal as any market found flouting this directive will be shut.”
Hunye called on the market men and women to imbibe the spirit of proper waste disposal in their different markets and cooperate with the Ogun State Waste Management Authority for a clean environment by paying their government-subsidised waste bills as and when due.
