The Lagos State Government has officially shut down Mile 12 International and Owode Onirin markets due to various environmental violations.
The decision to close these markets was communicated in a press release issued on Friday, and it was signed by Kunle Adeshina, the Director of Public Affairs at the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources.
Adeshina emphasized that the joint operation to close the markets was carried out by enforcement officers from the Lagos Waste Management Authority and Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps, acting under the instructions of the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab.
Commissioner Wahab, speaking about the operation, reiterated the policy of zero tolerance for uncleanliness in all markets throughout the state. He emphasized the critical importance of rigorous sanitation measures in Lagos markets, emphasizing that maintaining cleanliness and adhering to environmental regulations were vital for the city’s overall health.
He said, “Recent events at Mile 12 and Owode Onirin markets have brought to light the pressing need for strict adherence to sanitation standards in our markets. The closure, though a difficult decision, is a necessary step to address the prevailing environmental challenges and to ensure the safety and well-being of all stakeholders.
“The closure of Mile 12 and Owode Onirin markets will enable the stakeholders to assess the situation and improve public health and environmental sanity around those axes. Conditions in the markets have deteriorated to a point where immediate intervention became inevitable”.
The commissioner stressed that the enforcement action was not an isolated event, but part of a broader strategy to instill a culture of cleanliness and compliance with environmental regulations across the board for markets within the state.
He urged traders and customers to prioritize hygiene and sustainable practices in their daily business activities.
On his part, the Managing Director/CEO of LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, noted that the markets were closed for very severe unhygienic conditions and a litany of environmental infractions, adding that the closure was necessary, to protect the health of the public and to ensure it was properly cleaned up and sanitized.
