By Our Correspondent in Ilorin
As about 15,000 victims of the recent flood in Ilorin and some local government areas of Kwara state look up to succour, having lost property worth N10 billion to the disaster, residents of the state have been urged to be alive to their responsibility in keeping their environment clean to ensure healthy living.
The Team Lead of #PickThatTrash, an NGO in Kwara State, Miss Baliqees Salaudeen,gave the advice on Friday in Ilorin during a clean up exercise organised by NGO.
The Reporters, an online publication, reports that the exercise took kicked-off at the popular Mandate market in Ilorin and was done simultaneous in all the 16 local government areas of the state to commemorate World Clean Up day.
Salaudeen,who charged traders to sustain hygienic environment, stressed the need for collective responsibility in changing the mindset of the people against indiscriminate disposal of waste to ensure positive result.
The Reporters reports that the exercise, carried out by members of the PickThatTrash, was also used to sensitize the traders on healthy environment for them to be mindful of the effects of their non challant attitude toward the environment.
The online also reports that the exercise came up on the heels of the recent flood in the state whose cause has been attributed to indiscriminate dumping of waste by many residents in the state.
Salaudeen recalled that the NGO had earlier carried out clean up exercise at various markets in the state capital during which traders were sensitized toward embracing hygienic environment.
“It is on record that we have carried out clean up exercises at Yoruba road, Oja-Tuntun, Oja-Oba and Ipata markets among others,” she said.
She commended the First Lady of the state, Dr. Mrs. Olufolake Abdulrazaq,for partnering with the NGO through her initiative, Ajike People Support Centre in ensuring healthy environment for the people in the state.
The team lead also lauded Eleven Eleven Twelve Foundation, Kwara State Ministry of Finance and Planning, Kwara State Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Community Development, Kwara State Ministry of Environment, Kwara State SDGs Office, Eco-Justice Initiatives and JCI Unilorin for success recorded so far.
“They have given us immense support and have shown great concern toward achieving a clean, sustainable and healthy environment in Kwara State, we appreciate them and we are glad to commemorate this day with them,” the team leader said.
Also speaking in separate interview with our correspondent, after participating in the exercise, the Commissioner for Works, Mr. Rotimi Ilyasu and his Finance and Planning counterpart, Mrs. Olasunmbo Oyeyemi, advocated reorientation and attitudinal change among Nigerians to have a sustainable cleaner and safer environment.
“We are grateful to have young people with determination to make the state clean. This is a market place where edibles are sold. Food items sold in dirty environment can be injurious to health,” Opeyemi said.
“Environment in our markets are not so healthy. So, we have to continue to sensitize our people in collaboration with relevant ministries and stakeholders,” Iliyasu said.
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