Nasarawa shuts market, impounds 37 tricycles over sanitation violations

Some of the impounded tricycles at the ministry's premises on Saturday.

The Nasarawa State Government has ordered the immediate closure of the popular Lafia Tomato Market over alleged poor sanitation and public health concerns.

The state government also impounded 37 tricycles for two days for operating during sanitation hours, thereby violating the state’s sanitation laws.

The Commissioner for Environment, Solid Minerals and Mining, Margaret Elayo, stated this on Saturday in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, while briefing journalists shortly after the sanitation exercise for the month of August.

She explained that Governor Abdullahi Sule had approved the thorough cleaning of the market and that it had been done several times, but she expressed displeasure over the traders’ attitude.

The Commissioner who led the enforcement team said the closure followed repeated warnings to traders and market authorities to clean up the environment.

“We have observed heaps of refuse, poor drainage, and unhygienic handling of perishable goods in this market.

“This poses a serious health risk to residents, and the government cannot fold its arms and allow a disease outbreak caused by the attitude of the traders,” she said.

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Elayo added that the market would remain closed for two days, Saturday and Sunday, until the traders and the market association carry out a comprehensive sanitation exercise that meets the ministry’s hygiene standards.

“The ministry will conduct a re-inspection exercise on Monday to see if the cleaning complies with environmental standards before the market is reopened, she added.

Similarly, the commissioner said that the enforcement team has impounded 37 tricycles in Lafia for operating within the hours scheduled for the sanitation exercise.

She explained that the tricycles would remain in their custody for two days.

She added that the ministry would conduct a compulsory sensitisation exercise for the owners on Monday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm before releasing the tricycles back to them.

The commissioner therefore called on members of the public to always keep their environments clean to guard against the outbreak of all diseases.

“If the environment is kept clean, it will guard against a possible outbreak of any disease, thereby ensuring improved healthy living of the people,’’  she added.