SIFAX Group said its perfecting arrangements with the relevant Lagos state government agencies to dispose the five containers of bad fish discovered at one of its off dock terminals in Lagos.
These agencies include Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and Lagos State Waste Management Agency (LAWMA), among others.
The five containers of rotten fish were discovered last weekend during the on-site inspection of the bonded terminal facilities by the Lagos State Emergency taskforce team.
Adekunle Oyinloye, Group managing director, SIFAX Group said the company was already seeking the necessary government approvals for the evacuation and safe disposal of the containers before the taskforce visited the terminal.
“As a responsible corporate citizen, SIFAX Group will not deliberately endanger the lives of its neighbours, whom we have had excellent relationship with over the last 18 years that the terminal had been in existence,” he said.
According to him, the terminal owner contacted the shipping line, consignee and the Nigerian Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for possible collaboration in addressing this situation, when it discovered that the content of the containers had gone bad.
“As of this moment, NAFDAC is still conducting its investigation on the matter and being a bonded terminal, SIFAX Group couldn’t unilaterally dispose the rotten fish without approvals. While we were waiting for NAFDAC to round off its investigation, we have to retain the services of a reputable fumigation company to constantly disinfect the affected containers in order to protect our neighbours from air pollution and other health hazards,” he assured.
Oyinloye further noted that the intervention of the taskforce team was a welcome development capable of speeding up the disposal process that has been clogged by bureaucracy.
He however said the company was fully cooperating with the taskforce team for the safe evacuation and other post-disposal assessments and checks in order to guarantee a clean and pollution-free environment.
AMAKA ANAGOR-EWUZIE
