Cross River cracks down on sanitation defaulters

…Demolishes stalls blocking drainages

From Aniekan Aniekan, Calabar

The Cross River State Government on Saturday cracked down on sanitation defaulters at Marian Market, Calabar, demolishing stalls built on drainages and vowing to shut any market that fails sanitation standards.

Commissioner for Environment, Moses Osogi, who led the enforcement, said the action became necessary after traders ignored repeated warnings since last year to vacate drainages and keep their surroundings clean.

“We came for routine sanitation and what we saw compelled us to do a post-sanitation exercise here,” Osogi said.

“The market has become an eyesore. They are selling on top of waste and pouring waste into the gutter. That is what is causing the floods, yet when it rains, it is government that they will blame.”

He declared a full-day sanitation at the market and ordered all traders to vacate until the area is cleaned.

“If they don’t clean their market space, nobody is selling in Marian Market. I will replicate the same in other markets, even on ordinary days. If your market is not tidy, you won’t sell,” he warned.

Osogi said traders have no excuse to trade on roads and drainages when “there are empty shops inside the market.” He urged them to move in to decongest walkways and allow free flow of water.

Also speaking, Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment Patrick Egbede described the state of the market as “very, very disheartening,” warning that selling food on top of waste could lead to food poisoning.

“What I have seen here can cause disease. You don’t buy what you want to eat and it turns in your belly. This is about your health, not just government,” Egede said.

Osogi reminded traders of the state’s sanitation law, which mandates that markets remain closed between 7am and 10am on sanitation days. He said the ministry will henceforth carry out unannounced visits to all markets across the state.

As part of this month’s sanitation enforcement exercise, several defaulters were also apprehended and charged to the mobile court for prosecution.

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Pic: Some of the stalls built on top of drainages at Marian Market in Calabar Municipality