The Lagos State government said it would fully enforce the ban on the usage and distribution of styrofoam food containers on Monday.

The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, said this in a statement by Kunle Adeshina, the ministry’s spokesperson, on Saturday in Lagos.

Mr Wahab said enforcement officers from LAGESC/KAI, environmental health officials, LAWMA, police, and the ministry would go after all those with styrofoams in their shops, stores, or outlets and confiscate them.

He stressed that styrofoam usage had caused enough damage to residents’ health and the environment for so many years.

“The government is determined to encourage viable options for styrofoam containers across the metropolis,” Mr Wahab said.

The commissioner added that the state government was disturbed about unsanitary habits in most markets, hence the recent closure of some markets across the state.

“The government derives no pleasure in closing peoples’ businesses, but some markets are in a sorry state because of the nonchalant attitude of the markets’ executives,” he said.

He also said there were recent reports that government officials were attacked whenever they visited markets to ascertain the sanitary levels and enforce environmental laws in markets.

“I would like to appeal to all our traders to desist from selling on the railway lines and all the roads. Also, we must stop littering our markets with waste.

“We must segregate our wastes in our respective markets, bag our wastes, and ensure we patronise PSP operators,” Mr Wahab said.

He stated that in a few weeks, the state government would commission the Red Rail line, which is expected to operate from dusk till dawn.

The commissioner added that trading on the railway lines was risky and could lead to loss of lives.

(NAN)