The Lagos State Government has given the executives of Alamutu Plantain Market in the Idi-Oro area of Mushin a 24-hour notice to clean up due to poor sanitary conditions and indiscriminate waste disposal.
The notice came after an inspection on Sunday by the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, led by Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, Special Adviser to the Governor on the Environment and Water Resources.
This inspection is part of the ongoing weekly environmental sensitization, enlightenment, and cleaning exercise. Last weekend, Governor Bababjide Sanwo-Olu launched the monthly environmental sanitation awareness and sensitization program on Lagos Island, which will be replicated across five divisions of the state.
Previously, the state government had sealed the Alamutu Plantain Market on October 3, 2023, for similar infractions. The market was reopened after meeting cleanliness standards.
Rotimi-Akodu stated, “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 the 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, and markets while Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) officials would always be on ground to collect well-bagged waste and dispose of them properly.”
He added, “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 clogged up with all manner of waste. Because this is a market, it doesn’t mean it should be dirty and unhygienic. There should be a 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 a similar environmental offense. We will not hesitate again to shut it if the present attitude of unhygienic level is not abated.”
Rotimi-Akodu also appealed to the market’s executive members and traders, saying, “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 behavior. That is why I 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.”
He emphasized the importance of continuous cleanliness, stating, “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, and dispose of 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.”
Omobolaji Gaji, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, 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 belief that this initiative will ensure that flooding is reduced to the barest minimum for the good of the people of the state. That’s why we are taking this sensitization to the grassroots, our people, for a change of orientation.”
Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, Managing Director of LAWMA, added, “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 the government’s ongoing commitment to ensuring that markets in Lagos meet the required standards of cleanliness and sanitation.”
