COVID-19: Lagos begins fumigation of state secretariat, govt agencies

By Dada Jackson

The Lagos State Government on Saturday commenced the full decontamination/fumigation of offices in the state secretariat complexes and other governmental offices in line with preventive measures to curtail the spread of the second wave of the COVID-19.

A statement signed by the Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services in Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources,  Mrs Belinda Odeneye, stated that the exercise had become necessary to reduce the risk of the spread of the coronavirus at the state secretariat.

She said the state government would continue to adopt measures as part of the safety protocols to ensure that the COVID-19 pandemic did not further spread in the state, saying that the fumigation exercise would be a continuous process until the pandemic is contained.

She pointed out that the decontamination exercise which commenced with the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Lands Bureau, and Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development would end on Saturday, 30th of January 2021.

According to her, the exercise commences at 2pm during the weekdays while it will start at 8am on weekends, urging workers to vacate their offices and complex on stipulated days in order to avoid inhaling the chemicals used during fumigation.

According to the schedule, the Office of the Head of Service/PSO, Ministry of Special Duties & Inter-Governmental Relations, Management Services and Reforms Office, Office of Transformation,  Creativity and Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture, Office of Public Private Partnership, Lagos State Public Procurement Agency and Office of Civic Engagement will be fumigated on Saturday 16th of January, 2021 while the Office of Secretary to the State Government Cabinet Office, Office of the State Auditor General, Audit Service Commission, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Education, Office of Education Quality Assurance is to be fumigated on Sunday 17th of January 2021.

The Office of the Deputy Governor, Ministry of Local Government & Community Affairs, Civil Service Commission, Ministry of Tourism Culture, Ministry of Waterfronts will be fumigated on Monday 18th January 2021 in addition to the Ministry of Works & Infrastructure, Ministry of Housing, Civil Service Pension Office, Ministry of Information & Strategy and Ministry of Health that will be decontaminated on Tuesday 19th of January, 2021.

The staff clinic, Ministry of Transportation, Ministry of Establishment, Training & Pensions, Central Business Districts Office, Motor Vehicle Administration Agency, Ministry of Commerce, Industry & Cooperatives is expected to be fumigated on the Wednesday, 20th of January, 2021.

It listed Ministry of Wealth Creation & Employment, Ministry of Energy & Mineral Resources, Ministry of Home Affairs, Lagos State Liaison Office Annex, Lagos State Valuation Office, Lagos State Real Estate Transaction Department and Lagos State Planning & Environmental Monitoring Authority for Thursday 21st of January, 2021.

The State Treasury Office, Ministry of Finance, ABAT Centre, SPDV, Ministry of Science & Technology and the Ministry of Youth and Social Development are to be fumigated on Friday 22nd of January 2021 while Ministry of Women Affairs & Poverty Alleviation, Lagos State Safety Commission, Ministry of Economic planning & Budget, Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission and the Lagos Television LTV Complex Agidingbi are to be decontaminated on 23rd of January.

It will be the turn of the State House of Assembly Complex, LASEPA Building, LASEMA, Fire Service Office, Alausa, Digital Village and RRS & GMT on Sunday 24, January.

The exercise moves to the Old Secretariat, Ikeja on Monday, 25th January 2021 with Local Government Service Commission, Local Government Establishment & Pension Office, Teachers Establishment & Pension Office, Office of the Auditor General for Local Governments, Office of Youth & Social Development (COURT), Lagos State Coconut Development Authority, Muslim Pilgrims Board, Christian Pilgrims Board, LABCA, LSEB and LASURA on Monday 25th January, 2021.

The Lagos House/Office of the Governor, Office of Chief of Staff and Lagos Global will be fumigated on Tuesday 26th January, 2021.

And it will continue on 27th January at Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency (LASPARK), Lagos State Signage and Advertising Agency (LASAA), JJT and Ndubuisi Kanu Parks, Staff Canteen and ADEYEMI BERO Auditorium Hall.

The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and Lagos Water Corporation (LWC), Lagos State Printing Corporation, Office Of Surveyor General, Arts and Culture, DMO and  LASRAA Office are scheduled for Thursday 28th January, 2021.

The fumigation/decontamination exercise moves to Oshodi on 29th January for the offices of LASTMA, LASDRI, Lagos State Task Force, KAI Office, Neighbourhood Watch and LAW Reforms Commission and will be rounded off on 30th January with the Lagos State Material Testing Laboratory, Public Works Bureau, Lagos State Cooperatives College.