Lagos CARES to increase interventions in agriculture, markets
By Olayinka Olawale
The Lagos State COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus Programme (LAGOS CARES) says it will continue to provide quality and sustainable interventions in agriculture and markets.
Mr Jonathan Obayemi, the State Project Coordinator, Fadama Programme in Lagos, stated this at a one-day workshop for representatives of six wet markets in Alimosho Local Government Areas on Tuesday.
Obayemi noted that the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture, through the Fadama office under the Lagos CARES programme, had upgraded Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities in 71 markets across the 57 Local Government and Council Development Areas.
The Fadama coordinator noted that the capacity building would hold for one week in eight locations across the state.
The locations, he said, were: Ikorodu LG, Orile Agege LCDA, Alimosho LG, Coker-Aguda LCDA, Oshodi-Isolo LGA, Ibeju-Lekki LGA, Ajeromi- Ifelodun and Otto-Awori LCDA secretariats.
He said the participants were drawn from the market unit, sanitation unit, and agriculture and social services departments of concerned local governments and local council development areas alongside market leaders.
According to him, Lagos State government is committed to quality delivery of interventions along the agriculture value chain from ‘Farm to Fork.’
“The state Fadama coordination office is building the capacity of stakeholders on the operation, utilisation, maintenance, and management of projects to ensure sustainability even while the programme ends,” he said.
Obayemi urged the participants to step down the knowledge acquired during the workshop to market operators across the state and imbibe the culture of good hygiene and maintenance of government facilities in their various markets.
Also, Mr Mustapha Raji, the Environment Officer, FADAMA, Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture, urged the participants to imbibe good maintenance culture of the facilities within the markets.
The NG CARES programme was set up by the Federal Government, World Bank, and State Governments after the COVID-19 pandemic to provide support to mitigate its impact on livelihood, food security and small businesses.
He said the Result Area 2 of the Lagos CARES would bridge resources gaps of small scale farmers through provision of farm inputs and productive assets.
He said N-CARES had been promoting hygienic environment for agricultural produce through provision of water and sanitation facilities in wet markets.
He said the objectives of the workshop was to discuss sustainability, environmental and grievance related issues within the markets as the NG CARES programme was rounding off.
He listed some of the projects undertaken in the wet markets to include potable water, generating set, toilet facility, hand washing facility as well as fumigation equipment.
He said the workshop would educate the market traders and their leaders on how to maintain all government funded facilities within the markets to ensure sustainability.
“We want you embrace timely maintenance of the various equipment and facilities provided for you in the markets. We want you to form water users’ association to oversee the water project.
“We also want you to maintain general cleanliness of toilets, drains and hand washing facility, fumigation services, usage of body protective equipment like eye guards, gloves, booths and apron.
“We want you all to adopt a grievance resolution mechanism in the market involving representatives of local government and council development areas.
“We urge you to set up grievance redress committee that will provide a clear transparent framework to address complaints lodged by members of any market associations as a result of the projects,” he said.
Raji noted that by June, the NG CARES programme in Lagos would have increased the number of wet markets supported well above the present 71 markets.
“In the markets, we have the representatives of local government, agric department, FADAMA and market associations, we want to discuss the management of those projects because we cannot do it alone.
“FADAMA, through the COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus Programme, has supported markets in the last one year and we want to ensure that these facilities are in good condition.
“All these projects that we have undertaken, we want them to be sustained and properly maintained. We want you to own it because they are provided to make your lives easier and better,” he said.
Mrs Rachael Babajide, Head, Environmental Health Services, Ayobo Ipaja, LCDA, called for more collaboration between the local government environmental office and market associations for proper management of the markets.
Babajide said such collaborations would facilitate development, improve environmental sanitation and hygiene as well as proper monitoring of health officials.
She urged market leaders to abide by all rules and regulations laid down by the local government area to avoid sanctions.
“We want you to abide by the rules and regulations in the market. We want you to ensure that the projects provided by government are well maintained and its surroundings are clean,” she said.
Mrs Oluwakemi King, HOD Agriculture and Social Services, Egbe-Idimu LCDA, also urged the participants to always work together as a team and take ownership of the projects donated to their markets for sustainability.
“Don’t carry out self maintenance, always inform the management of N-CARES programme whenever the need arises and cooperate with your leaders,” she said.
Some of the participants who spoke to NAN expressed their appreciation to the state government and coordinator of FADAMA.
Mrs Sherifat Olaiya, a representative of Ipaja market, thanked the government for supporting the markets with potable water with hand washing facility.
“We have se tup a committee to manage our water facility and also ensure clear environment in and around the facilities,” she said.
Mrs Kudirat Emosi, Iya Oja Esidara market, Idimu, urged the representatives of Lagos N-CARES to visit the markets periodically for proper monitoring. (NAN)
Edited by Salif Atojoko
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