The Lagos State Government, on Monday, sealed the popular Alaba International Market along the Lagos Badagry Expressway due to environmental offences, News About Nigeria reports.
This action comes exactly a week after the reopening of the Mile 12 market last Monday.
The development was disclosed by the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, in a post on his official handle.
According to the Commissioner, the market was closed down due to the poor waste disposal practices of the market people and their failure to pay their waste bills, along with other “gross environmental sanitation offences.”
He further stated that the closure of the market was non-negotiable because issues critical to the environment, public health, and the safety of the people were at stake. The government would not stand idly by as these values are compromised and eroded by the conduct of a few people.
He said, “Alaba International Market, Ojo has been sealed up for poor waste disposal practices, failure to pay their waste bills, and gross environmental sanitation offences.
“We cannot continue to be nonchalant about our environment. Our negative attitude towards the environment must stop. The way we treat the environment is the way the environment treats us. We cannot fold our arms and allow the nonchalance of a few to affect the generality of the people.”
He further explained that the Mile 12 market, which was earlier shut down, was reopened after a thorough assessment covering various aspects of environmental compliance, such as waste management practices and general cleanliness within the market.
According to him, other markets that were closed down include Ladipo Market, Agbado Oke-Odo Market, Oyingbo Market, Alayabiagba Market, Alamutu (Ologede) Market, and sections of Tejuosho Market.
