By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Lagos Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has raised an alarm over the poor hygiene at the popular Kara cattle market along the busy Lagos-Ibadab Expressway, saying the area is an ecological disaster in the making.
The Director-General/CEO of the agency, Mr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, during an unscheduled visit to the market on Saturday, expressed disgust at the indiscriminate dumping of waste and the resultant pollution of the Kara River.
He warned that if urgent steps are not taken, there an outbreak of disease might happen as well as flooding, calling for an immediate commencement of the cleaning of the place.
Mr Oke-Osanyintolu, who was accompanied by Special Adviser to the Ogun State Governor on Environment, Mr Ola Oresanya, lamented at the rate users of the market dump waste into the river indiscriminately.
In his submission, he said the actions of the buyers and sellers at the livestock market have increased the fire hazards in the market area to unprecedented levels.
However, he assured that LASEMA will be on high alert regarding situation in the area to ensure the safety of lives and property as mandated by the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu led administration.
The LASEMA boss disclosed that the Ogun State Government has unveiled a work plan that will be operational within two weeks on how to check the menace.
As part of the agency’s immediate response, the LASEMA DG harped on the need for the cattle market operators to build septic tanks to store all human waste, while erection of a waste retention tank was also part of the mandate at the abattoir for the animals. This was supported with strategic placement of waste collection materials around the market.
Part of the DG’s recommendation was a daily cleaning of the market and a mandate to commence aggressive cleaning of existing waste in the Kara Market immediately.
