The Lagos state government yesterday flagged off the ‘Buy Rats Make Money’ initiative, which is a vector control programme aimed at the evacuation of dead rats in the state.
Phosgard Fumigants Big. Limited, is partnering with the state government to fumigate the markets, evacuate the dead rats and then bury them.
The programme, which is scheduled to take place on a monthly basis in order to completely wipe out the rodents because of their lifecycle, is expected to have a little token attached to it.
According to the CEO of Phosgard Fumigants, flyers have been distributed on how the market women can get involved with the extermination process and what is expected of them.
In a speech he gave at the flag-off of the exercise in Obalende Market on Thursday, he said,
“What we want is to have the fumigation when the market is closed, that is from dusk to Dawn. What the market women will only see are dead rats.
“They will not realise anything untoward, the only evidence are the dead rats which we have warned them not to pick with bare hands. They should pick them with hand gloves.
“We will be on ground to evacuate them, and bury them. We are not going to incinerate them but we will rather bury them. Dead rats decompose to save within six months. ”
Benson also urged individuals to contribute to this fight against the rodents as to have the best record in this effort aimed at a vector free environment.
He appealed to corporate organisations to see the positive side of this initiative and support it.
His words, “I want to appeal to corporate organisations to see this initiative as a programme meant for all and not one.
Environmental protection is the business for all and we must all rise to do our part and not government alone. The private organisations should leverage on the government’s good intentions.
“We have also met with the market women on the buy rats programme and also the token to be paid for the exercise which is pocket friendly.
“The exercise is almost free because the token paid will also be returned through the “Buy Rats Make Money” offered.”
The CEO urged everyone to make a joint effort to achieve the purpose of this programme as good health is an important factor to our very existence.
About 25 young people had been trained last month on extermination and safety procedures in connection with the exercise.
