Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources has issued a 24-hour abatement notice to executives of Alamutu Plantain Market, Idi-Oro area of Mushin and environs over poor sanitary conditions and indiscriminate waste disposal.
The notice followed an inspection carried out on Sunday, at the market by the ministry, led by Special Adviser to Governor on the Environment and Water Resources, Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, as part of the on-going weekly environmental sensitization, enlightenment and cleaning exercise.
Recall that last weekend, the state Governor, Bababjide Sanwo-Olu, kicked off the monthly environmental sanitation awareness and sensitization programme on the Lagos Island to be replicated across five divisions of the state.
On October 3, 2023 the state government had sealed the Alamutu Plantain Market over same infractions before it was later reopened after meeting the set cleanliness standard.
Speaking to newsmen after the inspection, Rotimi-Akodu said, “The exercise is another bold step of the present administration towards improving the general well-being of the citizenry as well as bequeathing a safe, clean, flood free and sustainable environment to the people of the State in line with T.H.E.M.E.S Plus Agenda.
“The government re-introduces this cleaning exercise, to encourage all residents in cleaning their homes, surroundings, drainages in front of their houses and streets, markets, while Lagos State Waste Management Authority, LAWMA officials would always be on ground to collect well bagged waste and dispose them properly.
“Undertaking the sanitation of our environment provides the ground for people to become hygienic for the safeguard of their health, it also increases the life-span of residents through the promotion of cleanliness in the environment they live in.
“The situation of this area after the inspection is absolutely unacceptable. With the level of indiscriminate refuse dump, unhygienic environment.. You can see the drainage channels are been clogged up with all manner of waste.
“Because this is a market, it doesn’t mean should be dirty, unhygienic. There should be level of cleanliness.
“We have issued a 24 hour abatement notice to the executive members of the market to clean up, failure to do so will attract immediate closure. We have shut the same market last year for similar environmental offence. We will not hesitate again to shut it if the present attitude of unhygienic level is not abated.
“We are using this opportunity to appeal to executive members and traders to maintain cleanliness henceforth to avoid possible sanctions. Lagos Government would not condone any act of unhygienic behaviour.
“That is why am reiterating it by appealing for voluntary compliance or we lock up the market. We are coming to check back if compliance has been met after the expiration of the notice.
“It’s our goal on our visit today to further educate residents on the need to take ownership of their environment and ensure that they continuously clean surroundings, dispose waste responsibly, not only on a monthly basis but on a daily basis. We must sustain this as our contribution towards maintaining a sustainable environment.”
Also, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Omobolaji Gaji, said, “As a government, it is our collective responsibility that we develop strategic methods to improve the environment, ensure that it is flood free and make it conducive for residents and this can be achieved through the continuous cleaning of the environment from time to time.
“It is our believe that this initiative will ensure that flooding is reduced to the barest minimum for the good of people of the state that’s why we are taking this sensitization to the grassroots, our people for change of orientation.”
The Managing Director, LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, who was also part of the team, said the measure was part of government’s ongoing efforts at combating pervasive filth in the environment, particularly, markets across the state.
Gbadegesin added that high sanitary standards were imperative for all markets and residents in the state.
“It is absolutely important that we maintain a hygienic environment in our markets.
“This action is not just a response to Alamutu Market’s conditions, but a part of government’s ongoing commitment to ensuring that markets in Lagos meet the required standards of cleanliness and sanitation.”
