The Ikeja Viva L’Amour Lions Club has suggested that it would be most ideal if the market plac­es were to be cleaned at the end of each market day as against the weekly cleaning legislated by the Lagos State government.

Anastatia Gbem, the newly elected president of the club for the 2024/25 Lions activity service year, narrated that elsewhere, at the end of every market day, the cleaners come around to clean and dispose of the refuse.

“But, this is not the case here as the refuse is left there in the market for days and weeks until the refuse and dirt begin to smell thereby jeopardising the entire environment health-wise. The market should be cleaned on a daily basis and the refuse evac­uated.

“The market is where every­body goes to buy all kinds of food and every other thing like cloth­ing and household items. The market is the commercial hub for petty traders who are strug­gling to earn their daily bread and that of their families, both young and old.”

While acknowledging sig­nificant improvement in refuse collection in the state, as well as maintaining that much more could still be done, Gbem dis­closed that Ikeja Viva L’Amour chose to carry out its maiden activity for the year at the mar­ketplace to encourage the trad­ers who spend their times there so that they can have a healthy business environment.

Everybody, she advised, should be conscious of dumping refuse only at designated places and not anyhow and anywhere.

Also, Agnes Duke, former president of the club corrobo­rated that the club does series of activities in each service year. Being the maiden activity for the year, Duke noted that they were at Ipodo Market to help them clean the market as well as give them some cleaning equipment to assist them in maintaining a reasonable state of hygiene. We serve our communities wher­ever we find ourselves, she re­marked.

Latifat Salau, an okra seller and one of the recipients of the gift items pointed out that they were surprised to see gorgeously dressed women coming to par­ticipate in the market environ­mental sanitation. We feel really humbled, she exclaimed.

“This large camping umbrel­la that they gave us will go a long way to shield us both from the scorching sunlight and the rain. The rakes, spades and brooms will also help. God will bless them abundantly.”

Also, Tamlat Adisa, Iyaloja Second Vice for Ipodo Market appreciated the club for their kind gestures stating that God will cause them to continually soar higher and higher both in their career and family lives.

And Igwe Nnadi, former chairman, Grinders Associ­ation, remarked on how im­pressed he was over what the club did in the market. “I pray the Almighty grant them the grace to achieve more in their service to humanity.”