The Ladipo and Oyingbo markets will be closed starting next Thursday until further notice, according to the Lagos Rubbish Management Authority (LAWMA), due to careless waste dumping, failure to pay for waste services, and generally subpar waste management at the markets.
The CEO and Managing Director of LAWMA, Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni, emphasized that despite repeated warnings, the unwholesome environmental activities of vendors in certain marketplaces required quick and appropriate 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.
“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,” Odumboni said.
He warned vendors in other markets to properly follow environmental hygiene regulations or risk having their markets permanently closed.
In a related development, a mobile court in Oshodi sentenced two environmental offenders for burning trash and pouring trash down the drain during rain. Both offenders were detained at the Ikeja and Lekki axes, respectively.
The first offender received a two-count sentence: one year in prison or a fine of 50,000 pounds, and one month in jail with no chance of a fine. In anticipation of the terms of his release on bail, the second offender was detained in custody.
The LAWMA director reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to ending all indiscriminate waste disposal in the city, noting that the enforcement team had been tasked with keeping an eye on the surroundings and apprehending anyone trying to thwart the Authority’s efforts to make Lagos more livable and clean.
In order to facilitate easy evacuation by assigned PSPs, he urged residents to develop the habit of effective waste management. He added that residents should report any delays in PSP evacuation using the Authority’s toll-free lines because, if they are discovered, excuses will not be accepted.
