Adebayo Adenrele
…says dump sites near residences dangerous to health
The Ekiti State Government has described market opening during sanitation exercise as an illegal activity that must be shunned by traders across the state.
The Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Chief Monisade Afuye, gave the warning in Ilupeju Ekiti on Saturday, while monitoring the monthly environmental Sanitation exercise in Oye Local Government Area of the State.
The State Government has also warned citizens against locating dumping sites near residential buildings to avert breakout of killer communicable diseases
The government added that displaying such habit could easily predispose residents to lethal diseases like: Cholera, Diarrhea, among others.
Places visited were: Ire, Ilupeju,Oye, and Ayegbaju Ekiti, all in Oye Local Government.
Addressing the residents in all the towns visited in a statement signed by her Special Assistant on Media,Victor Ogunje, Afuye, urged residents to always locate their refuse and sewage sites far from residential area to prevent health hazards.
“This environmental is for your own sake and safety. We pray we don’t have epidemics in Ekiti, but you can’t be locating dump sites near your homes and expect your wellness not to be endangered .
“I appeal to you, try and correct this anomaly for your safety. We didn’t want you to be spending your hard earned monies on sickness”, she advised.
The Deputy Governor also stopped at Oye Central Market to sensitise the traders against displaying their wares during environmental sanitation, saying this violates the State Environmental Sanitation Law.
Afuye, thereafter, visited the palace of Oloye of Oye Ekiti, Oba Oluwole Ademolaju to make formal report about the illegality of traders operating in the market during the sanitation exercise.
The deputy governor and the monarch later addressed the traders inside the market, with a warning to desist from such illegal conduct .
In her warning, the Afuye said citizen, who violates the exercise is deemed as a saboteur and would be treated with the long arm of the law if found culpable.
“Next time we see you like this, we won’t hesitate to arrest you and confiscate all your goods while those arrested will be made to face the full weight of the law. But, I want to appeal to you that you shouldn’t allow this to happen”, she warned.
Oba Ademolaju, in his admonition, described the violation as very disturbing, saying the leaders of the market women had done enough sensitisation on the need to comply with the monthly Environmental Law.
Expressing disappointment over the traders’ action, the monarch warned that such conduct shouldn’t repeat itself in the subsequent editions, noting that the government has the power to arrest violators and impose sanctions accordingly.
On the Deputy Governor’s entourage were: Secretary to the State Governor, Dr. Habibat Adubiaro, Lawmaker representing Oye Constituency II, Hon. Idowu Odebunmi, Permanent Secretary, Political and Economic Department, Ekiti State Governor’s Office, Adeleke Adefolaju, Chairman of Oye Local Government, Hon. Adesola Bamisile, among others.