In continuation of the inspection and sensitisation tour around the major markets in Benin Metropolis, the State Government has called on all the market women/ traders to desist from roadside trading activity and cooperate with the L.G.A to clean up their market in order to have a clean environment fit for their business activities.
This was made known by the commissioner for Environment and Sustainability, Osasere Evbuomwan during the inspection and sensitisation activity carried out by the State Government, through the Ministry of Environment and Sustainability and the Waste Management Board in collaboration with the Ikpoba-Okha L.G.A at the Oregbeni market, at Ikpoba Hill.
Speaking to journalists, the Commissioner, who was accompanied by the Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Liaison Officer, Hon. Eric Osanyande, General Manager, Edo State Waste Management Board, Osadebamen Charles Imariagbe and other senior Health Officers amongst others, emphasised how it has become of great importance to go around the major markets in the State to check their conditions as it relates to waste management and the level of compliance as well as to sensitise the market women, traders, and Edo residents on the need to ensure that their environment and the markets are kept clean.
He called on homeowners too to cooperate with the L.G.A to take full responsibility by ensuring they take hold of their environment/market to keep them clean, adding that the State Government has set up a support structure, through the Waste Management Board to give them the necessary help where and when it is needed.
Osayande commenting on the effort the State Government has been putting in to make the market conducive for the people to do their business, said; “I remember how much effort was put into this place in the past, it was a joint effort between the State Government and the L.G.A to remove the heap of refuse in the market but what we are seeing here today is unexpected, and the L.G.As are the ones in charge of the markets”.
Imariagbe, however, reassured the L.G.A. of the Board’s total support to make sure markets remain clean and urged the market waste managers to swing into action to meet the deadline given by the L.G.A. to evacuate the waste in the market, warning that failure to comply will attract sanctions.
On his part, Hon. Eric Osanyande noted and applauded the effort of the State Government towards ensuring that residents have a clean and conducive environment, pointing out how the State Government has helped in the past to evacuate heaps of debris from the market over the years.
He said; “the waste managers in charge of the market are not doing enough to evacuate refuse and keep the market clean. We are mandating the environmental health officers to work with the waste managers to evacuate the refuse in the market”.
On the issue of roadside trading and illegal waste billing, he said that they are doing everything within their power to make sure the women return to their various shades inside the market. He further mandated the stoppage of roadside trading activities and urged the task force to fish out those involved in illegally collecting money from the traders for waste disposal.
