The Lagos State Government under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has closed the Oke-Afa, Isolo, and Katangua markets in Abule Egba due to serious environmental breaches including waste disposal violations and several unsanitary behaviors around the markets.
The decision was confirmed by Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, who stated that the action was taken to address growing concerns about environmental health.
He emphasized that the government’s zero tolerance for waste effort, which was launched in the previous year, was still on track and promised to sanction any market or establishment that disposed of waste carelessly.
Wahab claims, “We have been pushing this zero tolerance for waste effort since last year, and the government has not abandoned it.
Markets and merchants can only dispose of rubbish in a respectable and civilized manner by following the guidelines set forth by the Lagos rubbish Management Authority, or LAWMA. Any market or establishment that violates this agreement shall be subject to penalties.
The commissioner gave locals the reassurance that the markets would be closed until strict waste management and hygiene regulations were put in place and followed. She also stated that the state government was fully committed to making sure that the entire city was clean.
“Our residents’ health and well-being are our top priorities,” Wahab went on. We cannot permit a small number of people to use careless environmental practices to jeopardize the health of many.
“It is imperative that these markets be sealed in order to enforce compliance and protect public health.”
Additionally, market executives were reminded by Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, the Managing Director of LAWMA, to consistently encourage their members to follow waste management standards, which include using the double dino bins that are given for markets and adhering to hygienic practices in their daily activities.
The rules of engagement, in his words, are fairly straightforward and well-known to the markets: don’t dispose of waste carelessly; use the dino bins; avoid disposing of waste on the road median surrounding markets; use waste policing to stop and apprehend outsiders interfering with your markets; and pay your waste bills on time. That is all there is to it.