Mandilas Market will be immediately closed for the next two days by the Lagos State Government in order to allow vendors to follow its order to remove any illegally constructed temporary buildings that have been placed on road setbacks inside and outside of the market.
The Lagos State Building Control Agency, along with a few law enforcement agencies and other pertinent government entities in charge of emergency-related affairs, jointly conducted an inspection and enforcement exercise on Saturday during which the closure notice was issued.
The enforcement action came about as a result of the traders’ failure to comply with the state government’s prior 14-day order to remove their goods and stores from the highways, particularly those near Mandalas on Lagos Island.
During the monitoring exercise, the enforcement team was led by Dr. Olajide Babatunde, Special Advisor to the Governor on eGIS and Urban Development; Bola Olumegbon-Lawal, his colleague in charge of the Central Business District; Nurudeen Sodehinde, Permanent Secretary, Office of Urban Development; and Gbolahan Oki, General Manager of LASBCA.
Babatunde gave a justification for the delay, stating that it was intended to allow the impacted store owners more time to retrieve their property and willingly take down any barriers placed in the way of pathways.
He said, “With the level of non-compliance and lackadaisical attitude put up by the affected traders, the state government is fully ready to enforce compliance and removal where necessary upon the expiration of the new ultimatum given.”
The state government is cleaning up the entire Lagos Island, and the Special Adviser for Central Business District stated that this is being done for the benefit and safety of the locals.