Kwara shuts down three restaurants for ‘flouting’ environmental laws

The Kwara government has shut down three restaurants in Ilorin, the state capital, for not adhering to environmental laws.

The three restaurants are The Place, Chicken Republic, and Amala Palace.

The government also threatened to shut down four other restaurants for violating the state’s environmental laws.

During an inspection of several restaurants in Ilorin on Thursday, Nafisat Musa-Buge, the state commissioner for environment, expressed disappointment at the unsanitary conditions of the outfits.

Musa-Buge said the state government is dedicated to ensuring the health and well-being of its residents.

She noted that despite numerous warnings, some eateries have failed to comply with environmental regulations and maintain proper hygiene standards.

“We have received complaints from residents about these facilities, and our inspection has revealed that they engage in unacceptable practices,” NAN quoted the commissioner as saying.

“These include discharging untreated wastewater from their eateries to the public, which is inimical to the healthy living of residents.

“The action of the present administration is aimed at protecting residents from harmful environmental conditions that are detrimental to the residents’ health and safety.

“It, therefore, becomes imperative for the government to close down some of the eateries that had received notices and refused to comply with warnings.”

The commissioner warned that the government will not hesitate to shut down any facility that fails to comply with sanitation laws.

Citing environmental health regulations, she said certain conditions must be met before facilities can be reopened.

“These include effluent treatment of their pits to avoid the emission of obnoxious odours and the provision of sanitary dustbins with tight-fitting covers,” Musa-Buge said.

“Also, submission of medical certificates of fitness for the food handlers, provision of aprons for food handlers, reconstruction of defective septic tanks, and general cleaning of the environment.”

Other eateries that were visited include Iya Yusuf restaurant, T & K restaurant, Kwara Mall, Alhaja Ayoka food canteen, Item 7, The Mai Shayi, and The Chops Central.