Akwa Ibom State Government through its Waste Management Agency has issued a 7-day ultimatum to the management of INELS Mall and Lounge, Uyo, to adhere to hygienic standards in line with the Akwa Ibom State Public Health Laws CAP 103, Vol. 5 of 2000.
In a letter sighted by our correspondent, dated December 18, 2020, issued and signed by the Environmental Health Officer of the State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency, INELS was accused of constituting environmental and public health nuisance, and ordered to, within 7 days evacuate the “heap of refuse close to the generator house, channeling of kitchen/ barbecue waste water into public drain which emit offensive odour, absence of medical certificate of fitness for kitchen staff and operational payment for 2020, get the heaps of refuse evacuated regularly by an accredited waste contractor.”
The business outfit has also been ordered to “channel all waste water into existing soakage pit and remove the pipe channeling waste water from your barbecue stand to the public drain (by your signpost), provide aprons and headgear to your staff, obtain medical certificate of fitness for all your kitchen staff, provide operational permit for 2020, and report at the Environmental Health Office, Itam on abatement of detected nuisances.”
A recent visit to INELS by our correspondent exposed the outfit’s poor adherence to hygienic standards. Refuse were heaped at various points even as a pungent odour overwhelmed the entire premises.