By Edeniyere Abraham Osose
The Edo State Government, through the Ministry of Environment and Sustainability and the Edo State Waste Management Board, in collaboration with Egor Local Government Council, has flagged off Monday morning market sanitation at Ogida Market in Benin City, on Monday 16th October 2023 and called on all the residents, market traders, and shop owners to comply with the directive to carry out sanitation exercise every Monday morning to make the State clean and attractive for businesses to thrive.
This call was made in Benin City during the flag-off and sensitization exercise by the Hon Commissioner for Environment and Sustainability, Arc. Joshua Omonkhodion, who was accompanied by the General Manager, Edo State Waste Management Board, Mr Osadebamen Charles Imariagbe; Senior Health officers of the L.G.A and other relevant stakeholders.
Speaking to journalists, Arc. Omonkhodion emphasized the efforts of the State Government so far to create a business-friendly environment that attracts investors, while calling on the people to support the resilient effort of Mr Governor Godwin Obaseki to have a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment for the people to do their businesses.
Similarly, he stressed the importance of the Monday morning market sanitation exercise, noting that the Governor Obaseki-led administration is working assiduously to bequeath the State an environment that is attractive to both investors and individuals who live in the State, as well as a system that works for all, adding that the initiative is not a one-off thing, but a continuous exercise to enable us to achieve the desired results.
Arc. Omonkhodion appealed to the people to support the campaign and comply with the directive to create a serene and sustainable environment, urging the residents, shop owners, and market traders to complement the effort of the State Government by taking responsibility for their environment as they join hands to clean the State.
On his part, the General Manager, Edo State Waste Management Board, Mr. Osadebamen Charles Imariagbe, said: “The sanitation has come to stay. You must have noticed what has been happening in Lagos, where the government is doing a similar thing.
“Right here, if you turn your camera around, you will notice some that did not comply, that probably stayed away and did not actively participate, have been shot down, and that is why they are here. We are partnering with a wide range of collaboration, the Ministry, the Board and the Local Government to make sure there is no loophole, and no stone is left unturned.”
According to Imariagbe, “Local Government has the charge already because markets are under them, and any market that does not comply over time and remains filthy will be shot down with time. There is no going back on all the decisions; that is why we are here to encourage the people. This is the simplest state, and we are here by ourselves. The Commissioner is here, the Local Government is well represented, the Board with all the arsenals, and the waste managers are here to evaluate and correct the wrong.”
“But, we want to sound a note of warning. Please and please, everybody should comply, clean market is a healthy one. After the continued exercise, there will be time for enforcement,” he added.
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