By Admin
Traders and Residents in the 16 local government areas of Kwara state have been urged to be alive to their responsibility in achieving safe, healthy and clean environment in the State.
Speaking during sanitation exercise embarked on in all the 16 local government areas of the state to commemorate World Clean Up day at the popular Mandate market, Ilorin on Friday, a group of youth in the state, who volunteered to clean up the market, charged the traders to sustain hygienic environment.
The exercise, carried, out by members of the PickThatTrash, a non governmental organization, was also used to sensitize the traders on healthy environment, attributing a cause of the recent flood disaster in many parts of the state to indiscriminate way of dumping refuse in drainages.
Speaking during the clean up exercise, the Team Lead of #PickThatTrash in Kwara State, Miss Baliqees Salaudeen, emphasised on collective responsibility in changing mindset against indiscriminate waste disposal in the state.
She spoke on the attitude of traders and residents towards the environment, saying they should take responsibility of their environment to avoid likely consequences of their actions.
Miss Salaudeen recalled that the NGO had previously carried out clean up of many markets in the metropolis, saying that the traders were sensitized to embrace hygienic environment.
“It is on record that we have carried out clean up exercises of Yoruba road market, Oja-Tuntun, Oja-Oba and Ipata market among others”, she said.
The group of youth, who commended the support of the First Lady of Kwara state, Dr. Mrs. Olufolake Abdulrazaq, through her initiative Ajike People Support Centre, also appreciated other partners;
Eleven Eleven Twelve Foundation, Kwara State Ministry of Finance and Planning, Kwara State Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Community Development, Kwara State Ministry of Environment, Kwara State SDGs Office, Eco-Justice Initiatives and JCI Unilorin for success recorded.
“They have given us immense support and have shown great concern towards achieving a clean, sustainable and healthy environment in Kwara State, we appreciate them and we are glad to commemorate this day with them”, she said.
Also speaking in separate interviews after participating in the exercise, commissioner for Works, Mr. Rotimi Ilyasu and his Finance and Planning counterpart, Mrs. Olasunmbo Oyeyemi, advocated reorientation and attitudinal change among Nigerians to have a sustainable cleaner and safer environment.
“We are grateful to have young people with determination to make the state clean. This is a market place where edibles are sold. Food items sold in dirty environment can be injurious to health. Environment in our markets are not so healthy. So, we have to continue to sensitize our people in collaboration with relevant ministries and stakeholders”, they said.