Commissioner for Environment, Dr Babatunde Adejare,  on behalf of the Lagos State Government, yesterday issued quit notices to street traders and hawkers in the state. Dr. Adejare said the measure was  necessary following the recent outbreak of Lassa fever in some parts of the country and Lagos especially because of the impending rainy season. This was done for the benefit of all Lagosians.

Adejare said street traders were not only degrading the state’s environment but that some of them were engaging in armed robbery, child abuse, making the traffic gridlocks worse and vandalising valuable infrastructure in the state. He said that the state government has given the Kick Against Indiscipline, KAI, Brigade and the Task Force, assisted by other law enforcement agencies, the directive to clamp down on all violators of its environmental laws.

He added:

“It is regrettable that the illegal hawkers and street traders have not heeded the
enlightenment and advocacy messages from the ministry on the need to keep the state’s environment clean and safe to attract more investors and boost the economy of the state.”

“To halt the spread of Lassa fever, Lagosians must maintain personal hygiene, proper sanitation in their environment, especially, clean-up of the vegetation in their premises,and proper bagging and disposal of waste to keep off the wild vector rats spreading the virus,”.

Adejare explained that all the agencies of the ministry, the Private Sector Participant, PSP, operators and non-governmental partners, have all been fully mobilized with human resources and equipment to ensure a 24-hour monitoring and enforcement for a sustainable environment.

He  advised residents experiencing symptoms of headache, sore throat, cough, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain to seek the medical help immediately.

Vanguard