LAWMA To Shut Down Ladipo, Oyingbo Markets Indefinitely

By Akinwale Kasali

The indiscriminate dumping of refuse at the Ladipo and Oyingbo Markets in Lagos State has forced the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) to, beginning from next Thursday, shut down both markets indefinitely.

The Waste Commission said that the reckless dumping of refuse,the  refusal to pay for waste services, and general poor waste management situation at the markets are the reasons for the planned closure of the markets.

Ibrahim Odunmboni, the Managing Director/CEO of LAWMA, noted that the unwholesome environmental practices by traders in those markets, despite repeated warnings, called for necessary and immediate sanctions.

He said: “Our attention has been drawn to the deplorable state of the environment around Ladipo Market, Mushin and Oyingbo Market, resulting from reckless waste dumping by traders. Despite serving them abatement notices, they have continued the mindless environmental violation. We are left with no other choice than to evoke the necessary sanction of shutting down the markets. This is also meant to serve as a deterrent to other nonchalant markets”.

He said that the authority had, in recent times, redoubled its efforts to ensure that business activities in all Lagos markets were carried out in a clean and safe environment, for the good of all.

Odumboni noted further that: “We have intensified our sanitation efforts by deploying trucks to clear black spots across the metropolis, especially business facilities.

“However, these efforts are being tainted by the activities of mischievous persons who would rather dump their waste indiscriminately on the roads, than pay for waste services”.

He urged traders in other markets to adhere strictly to environmental hygiene or risk indefinite closure of their markets.

In another development, a Mobile Court sitting in Oshodi has sentenced two environmental offenders, for waste burning and dumping of refuse in the drain during rainfall. Both were apprehended at Ikeja and Lekki axis.

The first offender was sentenced on a two-count charge: one year imprisonment or a ₦50,000 fine, and one month imprisonment, without the option of a fine. The second offender was remanded in a correctional facility, pending bail conditions.

The LAWMA boss reiterated the determination of the agency to stamp out all forms of indiscriminate waste disposal in the metropolis, adding that the enforcement team has been mandated to monitor the environment and arrest persons bent on derailing efforts of the Authority to make Lagos cleaner and livable.

He appealed to residents to imbibe the habit of effective waste management, by bagging and containerising their waste, for easy and evacuation by assigned PSPs, adding that delay of evacuation by PSP should be reported to the Authority, using its toll-free lines, as excuse when caught would not be entertained.