Lagos may shut markets for 3 months

According to Punch newspaper, Lagos State Government on Sunday said the Oke-Odo and Alamutu markets in Agbado Oke Odo and Mushin local government areas shut down on Friday might remained closed for three months.

The closure came barely three weeks after another market, Mile 12 Market, was shut over environmental offences.

Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello, who communicated the decision of the government to the market leaders, lamented that some markets in the state had refused to buy into the vision of the state in the area of environmental sanitation.

He said, “It is sad that most of our market men and women are still guided by the old traditional belief that rain is a blessing that must cart away refuse any time it rains.

“Lagos, as a coastal state, is susceptible to flooding, which is the more reason why we all must clear our drainages now, before the rainy season.”

He said the state government had embarked on pre-rainy season cleaning, clearing and dredging.

He expressed displeasure that in spite of government’s efforts, some people still disposed their waste indiscriminately.

He said, “For instance, traders in Alamutu Market have turned the drain constructed beside the market into a refuse bin.

“I have personally visited the area twice, to appeal to them to desist from this unsanitary habit. Meetings have been held with them, all to no avail.”

He also explained that traders in Oke-Odo Market; rather than trade within the confine of the market area, took over the entire stretch of a newly constructed road.

Bello alleged that the traders also dumped refuse indiscriminately in all the side drains as well as cause traffic snarl on that road.

“The State Government is left with no option but to close the market in order to prevent epidemic outbreak, and flooding when it rains.

“We are determined to sanitise our markets and environment. The rains are here and we shall ensure that the incidence of flood are reduced to the barest minimum in the state,” the commissioner said.

He warned that other market leaders in the state, who did not advise their members to buy into the government’s environmental policy also risked their markets being shut for three months.

My advice? Start gathering food and supplies now o. Not unless you import from obodo oyibo.