The Kwara State Environmental Protection Agency (KWEPA) on Thursday carried out its routine weekly sanitation exercise at the Post Office and Ipata markets in Ilorin, reaffirming its commitment to promoting a clean, safe, and healthy environment across the State.
The exercise, which brought together KWEPA officials, market stakeholders, and environmental health officers, is part of the Agency’s sustained efforts to ensure public health and environmental sustainability in commercial areas.
Speaking at the Agency’s headquarters after the exercise, the General Manager of KWEPA, Hon. Jide Aina, emphasized the importance of maintaining hygienic market environments and noted that unclean surroundings often lead to contaminated food, posing serious health risks to the public.
“Clean and well-maintained markets are essential not only for preventing disease outbreaks but also for supporting the overall environmental health of our communities,” Hon. Aina stated. “This sanitation exercise reflects our commitment to protecting the wellbeing of Kwara State residents.”
Hon. Aina further highlighted that KWEPA will continue to intensify its activities, including market sanitation, public sensitization, and strict enforcement of environmental regulations. He called on market leaders and traders to take ownership of the cleanliness of their business environments, noting that hygienic surroundings help attract customers and boost business viability.
During the exercise, Mrs. Fasilat Tajudeen, Head of Waste Management at KWEPA, disclosed that 10 shops were sealed for various environmental infractions. These included improper waste disposal and poor hygiene practices observed within business premises.
She explained that the enforcement actions were in accordance with the Agency’s mandate to ensure compliance with environmental laws, stressing that the objective is not punitive but corrective.
“KWEPA remains committed to engaging, educating, and supporting traders to adopt proper environmental practices,” Mrs. Tajudeen said. “We urge all shop owners to comply with environmental standards and avoid any actions that could endanger public health.”
The sanitation exercise also featured the clearing of refuse, desilting of drains, and a comprehensive inspection of market facilities.
KWEPA continues to appeal to the general public to cooperate with the Agency in its mission to build a cleaner, safer, and healthier Kwara State for all.
