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Tag: Lagos traders

  • Body urges Lagos traders on environmental cleanliness

    Body urges Lagos traders on environmental cleanliness

    A non-governmental organisation, F.A.B.E. International Foundation, has partnered with Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and Prudential Zenith to clean up Ketu Fruit Market in Lagos State.

    The event, with the theme: “Project Clean Air”, is an initiative to sensitise traders on proper cleaning hygiene and environmental cleanliness.

    The founder, FABE International Foundation, Temitope Okunnu, enlightened the traders on how waste from fruits could be converted to biogas, which could in turn generate electricity for the market.

    Okunnu said: “We want to sensitise market people where the source of fruit is so that they can become advocates for change themselves.

    ”We know that fruit waste can actually generate biogas and compost, waste can actually generate biogas and carbon, and here at Ketu market, we have a biogas digester, and it has not been harnessed.

    “So, we want a situation whereby the market people themselves begin to segregate their waste into the kind of waste that can actually feed into the bio-digester and then you can produce electricity for them.”

    LAWMA’s Assistant General Manager (Engineering), Ajayi Abimbola, affirmed the state government’s readiness to ensure that wastes generated from the market were converted to biogas for the benefit of the market and its inhabitants.

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    He said: “LAWMA is an agency under Lagos State that needs partnership with NGOs to survive and we have enough resources for us to showcase what we need now going forward, particularly at this Ikosi-Ketu fruit market.

    “We have waste maintained in our society, meaning there is need to divide organic waste from the land feed and to do this is to provide enabled environment so we convert this organic waste to resource material and one of them is biogas. Biogas is the aerobic direction whereby we produce methane and we produce bio energy for fertiliser.’’

    Speaking about the developmental process of biogas, Ajayi said the agency had made monumental progress adding that the project would be launched soon.

    “So far, all the preliminary work, the baseline study has been done. The next phase is to do the business model to showcase that we have enough methane that we produce from this market.

    “Presently, we are considering the biogas to be effective from next June. By June next year, we should be able to produce electricity for the market, we have a power fertiliser for them, we are still having a central kitchen for them to showcase that the raw material obtained from this market can be converted to the material we are looking at,” he said.

    Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer, Prudential Zenith Life Insurance, Cherise Ige, spoke about the importance of partnering with the agencies to provide a healthy living for Lagosians.

    She said: “We need to watch our emissions; we need to do things proactively like clean up our areas that we live in so as to encourage better air quality and atmosphere.’’ 

    The secretary of the market, Sola Olokungboye, expressed gratitude to the foundation and its partners for the clean-up and the sensitisation for the market men and women.

  • Lagos traders, women, others seek reinstatement of suspended Minister

    Lagos traders, women, others seek reinstatement of suspended Minister

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been urged to reinstate the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Dr Betta Edu in the light of the harsh economic realities Nigerians are contending with.

    Traders in Lagos, women, youth leaders and religous leaders said Edu will.help.to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians being a young and passion- driven minister.

    Speaking to a cross section of the public on the need to quickly reinstate Betta Edu, Chief Imam of Agbure Central Mosque at Ojodu Abiodun, stated that the issue goes beyond mere obligation but speaks to moral and economic imperatives crucial for the country’s progress and stability.

    He said: “At the heart of the argument for meeting Nigeria’s social intervention needs lies the moral imperative to uphold human dignity and social justice. Betta Edu deserves better because for the short while that she came to political limelight, she has paid her dues.

    ” Every citizen, regardless of their socioeconomic status, deserves access to basic necessities such as food, shelter, healthcare, and education. Poverty, hunger, and lack of access to essential services not only undermine individuals’ quality of life but also erode the social fabric of the nation.”

    He warned by failing to address these pressing needs, Nigeria risks perpetuating cycles of inequality and marginalization, further widening the gap between the privileged few and the disenfranchised many. 

    “And as it stands, the suspended Minister knew her onion, so am calling on President Tinubu to bring back the woman, Dr Betta Edu, so she can continue her good work,” he said. 

    Mrs Ifeyinwa Nwokolo, a business woman and a distributor described Dr Edu as an all round humanist who should be reinstated. 

    She said: ” I have never met her but from what I read and watched on Television, she is a charismatic woman. Her compassion and humility made market women all over the country to love her. She has the solutions to the people’s social needs. So am calling on the wife of the President, Senator Remind Tinubu to intervene and forgive her of the little administrative error she made.” 

    Alhaji Tunji Adunbarin, a pensioner, said that meeting Nigeria’s social intervention needs is essential for fostering social cohesion and mitigating the risks of social unrest.

    ” In a country as diverse and complex as Nigeria, disparities in access to resources and opportunities can fuel tensions along ethnic, religious, and regional lines. Social intervention programs that target marginalized communities and vulnerable populations not only alleviate immediate suffering but also promote inclusivity and solidarity across societal divides.

    ” By investing in the well-being of all citizens, Nigeria can build a more resilient and harmonious society, capable of weathering the challenges of the present and future, so I am begging President Tinubu to recall Betta Edu so the people can breathe again.”

    Cross section of traders at the Isheri,/Olowora market under Kosofe local government area unanimously echoed and begged President Tinubu to bring her back to continue her good work.

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    The leader of the group, Alhaja Modupe Taiwo, said that the little support they got from the Humanitarian Minister went a long way in helping their fellow traders who were feeding from hand to mouth.

    They reminded President Tinubu that from an economic standpoint, meeting Nigeria’s social intervention needs is not just a matter of altruism; it is a strategic investment in human capital and national development and that they appreciate the President but they need Betta Edu to fasten their recovery.

    “Poverty, malnutrition, and inadequate healthcare and education hinder individuals’ productivity and potential, thereby stifling economic growth and perpetuating cycles of underdevelopment. On the other hand, investing in social intervention programs yields substantial returns in the form of improved health outcomes, increased educational attainment, and enhanced workforce participation. “

    Alhaji Olajide Kilajolu who is an APC member, added that neglecting Nigeria’s social intervention needs can have far-reaching consequences for the country’s stability and security. 

    “Economic disparities and social exclusion create fertile ground for discontent and disenchantment, which can manifest in various forms of civil unrest, including protests, demonstrations, and even violent conflicts. 

    “By addressing the root causes of social inequities and addressing the grievances of marginalized communities, Nigeria can foster a more stable and secure environment conducive to peace, progress, and prosperity,” he stated.