Epidemic Looms In Aswani Market
Residents and traders in Aswani market, Isolo, Lagos state, southwest Nigeria, have appealed to the Lagos State government and the Ministry of the Environment, to save them from an imminent epidemic in the area, following the indiscriminate discharge of industrial waste.
The residents claimed that for more than three months now business has taken a nose-dive and few people come to the market due to the odious stench in the air all around the market. They attributed the smell to the water being discharged into the gutter, part of which spills into the road and the market.
It was gathered that apart from traders and residents in the area, commuters and motorists have to cover their nose because of the smell, a situation which they described as dangerous.
Mrs. Raliat Adebambo, a textile dealer in the market said, “For more than three months now, we have not been comfortable because of the odour caused by the dirty water coming from one of the companies here.
“We have complained to the council authority but nothing has been done. The water keeps spilling into the road.
“We are appealing to the Lagos State government to come to our rescue and save us from the impending disaster.â€
Mr. Tayeshe Ajayi, who lives in one of the streets around the market said, “the situation is becoming unbearable. Everyday we can not breathe well due to the discharge of waste water from the industries around us.
“We shall be grateful, if the state government could come to our rescue.â€
When Lagos bulletin called at the secretariat of the local government, the council chairperson could not be reached for comments, but a staff in the environmental department said the council is on top of the matter and the industry involved has been contacted.
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