•As Defaulters May Risk Sanctions
By Onyekachi Eze
In apparent bid to checkmate the level of cleanliness across all the markets in the 27 Local Government Areas of Imo State, the State Legislators have unanimously adopted the prayers and resolutions of a motion moved by the Member representing Ohaji-Egbema State Constituency, Hon. Uzoma Francis Osuoha.
Osuoha had in the motion prayed that the Ministry of Environment alongside the Amalgamated Market Traders Association ISAMATA, be urged to strictly enforce a weekly sanitation exercise in all the markets in Imo State.
Leading the debate at the floor of the House on Tuesday, January 23, 2024 plenary session, Hon. Osuoha decried the spate of filth in the markets.
He remarked that pandemic looms if nothing urgent is done to remedy the sorry situation.
Osuoha fondly called “Eze Buguma”, submitted that a survey of the entire markets had exposed the level of hygienic decadence among traders in the respective markets who do not only litter the environment with dirts and debris, but also mess up the vicinity with animal and human defecations.
Against this backdrop, he expressed serious worry that most of the health challenges people encounter emanates from the market.
According to him, there is need to remind all marketers in different market spaces that cleanliness is next to godliness.
While he said the motion was drawn from his deep concern on the health of Imo residents, he explained that people are not helping the State government in achieving a clean State even when the government of the day is leaving no stone unturned towards attaining the goal.
“I don’t really know how people trading in these markets feel comfortable to eat, drink and stay in such dirty places, yet, keeping it tidy becomes difficult for them. To be sincere, pandemic looms if nothing is done about it.
“The motion is in line with the governor’s vision of making Imo better, safer and healthy to live. Our Governor has done his best in ensuring a clean State, but the people seem to be the problem.
“This is time the Ministry of Environment, ENTRACO, ISAMATA rise up to their responsibility of making sure the clean-up exercise is enforced, and every debris from the exercise evacuated immediately at the right spots”, he opined.
Speaking further, he cited a past encounter in Lagos State where some markets were shut down by government due to non compliance by the traders.
“This may be replicated in Imo State. Any market that fail to adhere to the ‘every week’ Thursday market clean up exercise should be closed down to serve as deterrent to others”.
The motion further reads, “Observing that the markets in Imo State are littered always with hazardous debris and this may cause diseases and infections if adequate clean-up exercises are not carried out regularly;
“Observing further that most of the markets in Imo State do not carry out weekly clean-up exercise;
“Noting that the Imo State Governor is desirous of seeing that our markets remain clean and are in good sanitary condition to preserve and protect the health and wellbeing of Imo citizens”.
The Lawmakers who spoke in one voice in their respective contributions to the motion also noted that trading on the road and indiscriminate dumping of refuse should cease.
Imo State Waste Management Agency and ENTRACO were charged to be proactive in disposing refuse dump.
While they commended Osuoha the Chief mover of the motion for the well thought-out motion, they described it as life saving and paramount that all hands must be on deck on the fight against dirty market environments and dirty streets.
After an exhaustive debate on the motion, the House resolved to urge Governor Hope Uzodimma to direct the Ministry of Environment to mandate the Imo State Amalgamated Market Traders Association (ISAMATA) to ensure that every Thursday between 7am – 10am is set aside for weekly clean-up exercise in all markets in Imo State in order to maintain a clean and healthy environment for the ultimate good of the entire Imo State Citizens.
