Indiscriminate refuse disposal: Kwara govt warns traders

The Kwara State Government has warned traders at the Sunday-Sunday market, Kulende/Sango Area of Ilorin to desist from dumping refuse on the road medians and drainages.

The state Commissioner for Environment, Mrs Remilekun Banigbe, gave the warning on Monday, during a visit to the market in a bid to ensure that the state keeps pace with global environmental standards.

Banigbe made sure that traders were given a marching order to maintain the road setback and adhere strictly to the state environmental laws to avoid being sanctioned.

The commissioner and her team, in company of the General Manager of Kwara Environmental Protection Agency (KWEPA), Alhaji Sa’ad Danmusa, participated in addressing the setback.

 Banigbe explained that the effort was to ensure that indiscriminate dumping of refuse did not provoke outbreak of diseases.

She noted that such attitude could result into blockage of drainage and might cause unbearable heavy flood that could put millions of lives and properties in jeopardy.

The commissioner frowned at the traders that display their goods on the roadside, pointing out that such act can make them vulnerable, by exposing them to mechanical and human dangers on the road.

She said that the market layout was structured in a way that could accommodate traders and their goods, advising them to desist from displaying goods on the road side.

Banigbe reiterated her commitment to ensure that the state conform with global practice through proactive measures put in place to change the lackadaisical attitude of the people towards a clean environment.

“The Ministry will not condone any form of misbehaviour from defiant traders that may mar the efforts of government in sustaining its position in the world map.

“I employ the traders to make effective use of the waste disposal bins available in the market as effective use of the bins will pave multitude of ways for a sane market environment,” she said.

(NAN)