The Kwara State government has clamped down on some eateries over unhygienic conditions and other environmental violations.
The state’s Commissioner for Environment, Hajia Nafisat Musa Buge, expressed disappointment during an inspection of some of the affected eateries in the Ilorin metropolis.
She lamented that despite repeated warnings, some eateries have refused to comply with environmental laws and maintain proper hygiene.
Daily Trust gathered that some residents had protested emissions of obnoxious odour that had led to shops and businesses closures in affected areas.
Some of the inspected kitchens were said to be eyesore when the govt team visited contrary to the posture portrayed.
About three popular ones among them were shut while others, including those with big franchises across the country, were summoned by the commissioner.
According to the commissioner, complaints from residents revealed that they engage in unacceptable practices.
“This includes discharging the untreated wastewater from their eateries to the public, which is inimical to the healthy living of residents,” she said.
She reiterated that the action of the government was aimed at protecting residents from harmful environmental conditions that are detrimental to their health and safety.
“It therefore becomes imperative for the government to shut some of the eateries that had received abatement notices and refused to comply”, Buge added.
She informed that in line with the environmental health laws, they must meet some expected conditions before they can be allowed to reopen.
She listed such to include effluent treatment of their pits to avoid the emission of obnoxious odours and provision of sanitary dust bins with tight-fitting covers.
Others include submission of medical certificates of fitness for the food handlers, provision of aprons for food handlers, reconstruction of defective septic tanks, and general cleaning of the environment, among others.