The Rivers State Gov
ernment has said that the decision to focus sanitation activities in markets and abattoir is to avoid incidences of food poisoning.
The Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Nyema Weli, who disclosed this month’s sanitation exercise at Rumuomasi ultra modern market also warned the traders against allowing pests such as ants and cockroaches to settle on foods.
Dr Weli, who was represented by the Director Environment Health and Safety, Dr Ugochukwu Nmegbu, also urged the traders to keep the market free from rats and other rodents.
He said that the only way the society can be free from Ebola and other diseases is for market traders and others to ensure that their surroundings are clean.
The commissioner also said that a committee to monitor sanitation activities in the various local government areas of the state will be setup by the ministry.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Environment has threatened to arrest anyone find dumping refuse on the road.
Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Nyema Weli, said that the ministry had a number of refuse collection points and urged members of the public to make use of them in the interest of the society.
Also speaking, the state Director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr Oliver Wollugbom, called on the ministry to put in place modalities for enforcement of sanitation exercise.
Mr. Wollugbom said that his Agency believes on enforcement of the exercise as people no longer take the exercise serious.
He further said that the Agency is also fighting against stigmatisation of Ebola victims.
A road sweeper domostrating the cleaness of road/streets in Port Harcourt, during the awareness campaign by the Rivers State Waste Management Agency, recently. Photo: Chris Monyanaga