Joy Anyim
The Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) has warned traders at various markets in the state and their leaders to ensure strict compliance with the social distancing order, saying that defaulters of the directives would be appropriately sanctioned by the state government.
Corps Marshal of LAGESC, CP Gbemisola Akinpelu (rtd), who gave the warning at the Command Headquarters, Bolade, Oshodi, on Monday, explained that the measure was necessary in order to break the cycle of transmission of the deadly corona-virus pandemic
According to her, ” Over crowded areas such as our market places will help to increase the spread of this pandemic if social distancing is not adhered to and this will pose great danger to the effort of the State Government at combatting the spread of the virus, stressing that the Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources has directed the immediate shutdown of such market.”
The Corps Marshal noted that the Agency will beam its searchlight on all the market places in the state to ensure that these directives is strictly adhered to through aggressive advocacy campaign and sensitisation on total compliance to the order.
She stated that similar campaigns were carried out at the Mile 12 food market in Kosofe Local Government Area of the State and will also be extended to other major market in the state.
Mrs. Akinpelu admonished the market on the need to maintain environmental cleanliness around the markets and stop trading on road setbacks and drainage.
She advocated personal hygiene among members and setbacksket users by engaging in regular hand washing with soap and water as well as regular use of hand sanitisers, nose mask.
“ Always consult the nearest hospital or testing centres for any ailment to ensure that the spread of the virus is curtailed as our markets harbour influx of people.
“While people who do not have any business around the market, loitering, should stay at home to reduce the numbers of people within the markets arenas, ” she stated.