By Nudoiba Ojen
The Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe, has bemoaned insufficient sanitation arrangement in the markets in his domain, the state capital.
Oba Adejugbe, who spoke in Ado Ekiti on Monday while playing host to the Ekiti chapter executives of the newly formed National Union of Market Traders Employers of Nigeria, also condemned the way some residents abused and messed up sanitation amenities in few markets where available.
The traditional ruler, represented by the Sasere of Ado Ekiti, Chief Segun Famuagun, urged the union to “impress it on governments, particularly the local councils, on the need to put necessary sanitation indices in the markets, so as to guarantee clean environment and safeguard health of the people”.
The Ewi said, “There are currently over 25 markets in Ado Ekiti alone, with none, having appreciable state of sanitation arrangements. Again, our people must stop abuse of the facilities in the few places they are available”.
The monarch, who commended the Federal Government for approving the establishment of the union, said everything humanly possible should be done to change the tide.
He promised support for the successful operations of the union, advising it to carry out its activities, in line with the rule of law, and respect for human dignity.
Earlier, the NUMTEM State Chairman, Mr Morakinyo Akintoye, who said the union was non-political non tribal, non religion, non cultural, and non-governmental, said, “it has only come to wipe out all tears, flowing unjustly in the faces of all market traders in Nigeria.
While seeking support for the union to deliver on its aims, the NUMTEM chairman said, “Our aims include to defend the integrity and independence of the market traders in Nigeria by promoting and advancing their welfares in all the markets in the country.
“Also the establishment, is for maintenance and full operation of a system that will prompt quick attention to our member’s needs”, Akintoye said.
He said that the union would render great support to the states and local governments “to improve all the decayed structures, as well as see to the re-beautification of all our markets in the states, by providing necessary social amenities, such as public toilets, boreholes, among others”.
Recall that Ekiti State Government in March begun compulsory weekly sanitation exercise on Thursdays in markets across the state.
Commissioner for Environment, Tosin Aluko-Ajisafe, had said the initiative was “part of efforts to enhance cleanliness and environmental hygiene and as well
maintenance of infrastructure in the markets”.
