Lagos To Punish Users Of Banned Chemicals

The Lagos State Government has warned that it would punish those who store or use banned chemicals in the state. This stern warning was given by the Director General of the Lagos State Safety Commission, LSSC, Mrs Dominga Odebunmi, while briefing newsmen at her office recently on activities mapped out by the state government to mark the Lagos State Safety Week, LASSWEEK, in commemoration with World Day for Health and Safety at work place.

She pointed out that the storage and usage of banned chemicals such as Heptathlons, Chlordane and Mercury is punishable according to provisions of the law.

“Let me quickly reiterate here that the state government has updated and upgraded standards, harmonized inspectorate/enforcement strategy to promptly eradicate these malpractices,” the LSSC boss noted.

Furthermore, Odebunmi stressed that, “the Commission will not condone the unsafe use and storage of chemicals especially as it has adverse and harmful effects on human beings and environment.”

According to her, there are provisions under the Environmental and Public Health Laws of the State prohibiting the storage of these chemicals, adding that as an agency of government saddled with the responsibility of developing and regulating standards, the Commission is determined to ensure that avoidable deaths are reduced to the bearest minimum in the state.

The DG explained that the use of banned chemicals could lead to degeneration of the environment, destruction of food sources, diseases and fire out breaks consequently leading to the destruction of lives and properties.