By Akinwale Kasali
The Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, has ordered the immediate closure of Ladipo and Mushin Markets for many environmental offences including, reckless waste disposal, unhygienic premises, and non payment of waste bills, among others.
He said the market would remain closed until the mandatory conditions of redress were met by traders and market stakeholders, adding that it was part of ongoing efforts at instilling compliance in markets around the state.
Speaking on the development, Wahab underscored the critical importance of environmental hygiene in markets, noting that, “It is imperative that markets in the state adhere strictly to environmental laws and regulations put in place for the well-being of residents. The closure of Ladipo Market serves as a stern reminder that no entity, regardless of its size or influence, is above the law.”
He stated that the State Government was fully committed to collaborating with market stakeholders, to facilitate necessary adjustments and improvements, to enable them meet required environmental standards, adding that the market would not be reopened for business until set standards were met.
The Commissioner said, “Ladipo Market, a prominent hub for automotive spare parts and related services, has been a focal point for environmental concerns due to various activities that contravene established regulations. LAWMA’s intervention is a significant step towards rectifying these issues and bringing the market to compliance”.
Reacting to the call of the Commissioner, Muyiwa Gbadegesin, LAWMA’s Managing Director/CEO, said that the closure was expected to allow for a thorough assessment of the environmental impact of the market’s activities and the implementation of necessary remedial measures, serving as a clear signal that LAWMA would not hesitate to take decisive actions, where and when environmental laws were flouted.
“As Lagos State continues to grow and develop, it is imperative that economic activities are conducted in a manner that is sustainable and environmentally responsible. LAWMA’s recent actions demonstrate the authority’s commitment to this cause. The offensive against environmental infractions will continue till sanity is restored in our markets, while the next stop will be illegal markets”, he stressed.
The closure of Ladipo Market follows a similar action taken against Oyingbo, Alayabiagba, Oke-odo markets, and some sections of Tejuosho Market, for serial infractions. The decision to shut down those markets underscored the state government’s unwavering commitment to the restoration of environmental sanity in the state.
It would be recalled that yesterday, LAWMA sealed several plazas around Tejuosho Market, Yaba, for environmental offences including improper waste disposal and trading activities obstructing free flow of traffic, among others.
The affected plazas are those situated around Mobil Filling Station down to the left and right sections of the popular Okrika market.
Gbadegesin disclosed that the plazas were found to be in violation of several critical environmental regulations, which include indiscriminate dumping of waste on road median, use of road setbacks for trading activities, impeding free flow of traffic, and operation of illegal motor parks in the area.
He said, “Under our policy of zero tolerance for environmental infractions, LAWMA is totally committed to maintaining high environmental standards across the state. The ongoing enforcement actions are part of our broader efforts to sanitise markets, highways and public spaces, to acceptable standards”.
Gbadegesin called on all stakeholders, including market associations, traders, and residents, to cooperate with Authority, in ensuring that markets adhere to established environmental guidelines, adding that collaborative effort was crucial in creating an alluring cityscape that adequately supports commerce and the well-being of the people.
“As LAWMA continues to monitor and enforce compliance with environmental regulations, it is required that the affected plazas will quickly effect necessary improvements to meet required standards, before they can be reopened for business activities”, he stated.
The ongoing enforcement action is part of a larger campaign by LAWMA to improve sanitation conditions in markets across the state. Markets already sealed under the current campaign of zero-tolerance for environmental infractions include Oyingbo, Alayabiagba, and Oke-odo markets.
