By Damilola Akinlotan
The Ekiti State Government, has warned traders and members of the commercial driver unions operating in the state against violating the monthly environmental exercise.
The government also pleaded with security agencies to collaborate with the environmental officers for full enforcement of mandatory restriction for the three hours the programme lasts.
The Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, gave the warning, on Saturday, while monitoring the monthly environmental exercise in Ikole Local Government area of the state .
Places visited included Ikole Local Government , Ikole West, Ajoni and Kajola Local Council Development Areas.
Mrs, Afuye, in a statement by her Media Assistant, Victor Ogunje, expressed regret that traders and commercial drivers in towns like Iworoko, Ifaki , Oye, Ayegbaju and Itapa, were operating in full swing, despite the 7-10am restriction announced by the government.
She commended the Chairmen of Ikole Local Government and the three LCDAs in the council, for enforcing compliance with the restriction order and ensured environmental cleanliness and hygiene.
She said: “I was not really happy with the way the commercial drivers and traders were operating freely in virtually all the towns that we crisscrossed before we got to Ikole Ekiti.
“They were operating with scant regards to the monthly restriction. I want to appeal to our security agencies to join hands with the local government chairmen and our environmental officers to make this programme a success.
“What we are doing is to prevent infectious disease from breaking out. People can’t be selling foods in dirty environments and expect that the consumers will be in good health shape.
“Environmental hygiene is necessary in the life of any citizen, once you are able to maintain this, one is bound to enjoy long and healthy life. You won’t be spending your money on sicknesses. This is besides the beauty it will add to where you live”.
The Deputy Governor promised that a blocked section of Ayedun-Ipao link road in Ayedun Ekiti and an erosion site in Ijesa-Isu, identified as posing serious ecological hazards will be addressed by the state government.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget, Mr. Sesan Alabi, who accompanied Mrs Afuye on the enforcement tour, lamented that the level of compliance outside Ado Ekiti capital city was low and abysmal.
Alabi urged the citizens to key into the monthly programme to safeguard their health and reinforce environmental cleanliness in Ekiti.
“This exercise is just once in a month and it is for our own benefit. Let us enforce it and allow our people to participate because health is wealth”.
The Chairmen of Ajoni and Ikole West LCDAs, Hon Michael Ogungbemi and Mr. Kayode Ogunsakin, said the presence of the Deputy Governor and other top government functionaries makes the exercise more successful in the council.
They, however, called on the security agencies to be more involved in the enforcement of the monthly exercise to make it more participatory in the overall interest of the Ekiti residents.
