SIFAX Group has said the conglomerate has concluded arrangements with the relevant Lagos state government agencies to dispose the five containers of bad fish at one of its terminals in Lagos.
According to the company, the agencies include: Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and Lagos State Waste Management Agency (LAWMA), among others.
“We have engaged the Lagos State Government and relevant agencies to dispose the containers immediately”, it said in a statement yesterday.
In the statement, which was sent to Shipping Position Daily and signed by its Corporate Affairs Manager; Mr Muyiwa Akande, it confirmed that, it has already commenced discussions with relevant government agencies to safely evacuate the containers.
“The Lagos State Team and relevant agencies were at our terminal over the weekend to access the containers and high level talks have already begun on the prompt evacuation of these containers from our terminal”
Sifax added that, through its Group Managing Director, Mr. Adekunle Oyinloye, the company was already seeking the necessary government approvals for evacuation and safe disposal before the taskforce visit.
He said: “As a responsible corporate citizen, SIFAX Group will not deliberately endanger the lives of its neighbours, who we have had an excellent relationship with over the last 18 years that our terminal had been in that community.
“When the company discovered that the content of the containers had gone bad, we immediately contacted the shipping line, consignee and the Nigerian Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for possible collaboration in addressing this situation.
“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 fish without approvals.
“While we were waiting for NAFDAC to round-off its investigation, we have to retain the services of a reputable fumigation consultant to constantly disinfect the affected containers in order to protect our neighbours from air pollution and other health hazards.”
The statement also quoted Mr Oyinloye as further noting that the intervention of the taskforce team was a good development that would speed up the disposal process that has been clogged by bureaucracy.
He 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, adding that a robust community engagement plan has also been mapped out to assure its neighbours of the company’s commitment to their well-being and good health.
Shipping Position Daily had reported on Tuesday that, two safety agencies of Lagos State Government had discovered five containers laden with rotten fish and other edibles.
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