By Seyi Babalola
The Lagos State Government has reopened the Alaba Rago Market, Ojo, having met some of the conditions set for reopening sealed markets in the state.
This reopening follows the closure of the market last week for various environmental infractions.
This was revealed in a statement posted on the official Facebook page of the Lagos Waste Management Authority on Monday, October 30.
According to the statement, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, visited the market on Sunday for assessment, accompanied by the Special Adviser on Environment, Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, the Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services, Gaji Omobolaji, the Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Services, Lekan Shodeinde, the Managing Director, LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, and the Chairman of Lagos State Taskforce, CSP Shola Jejeloye.
Wahab stated that the market was reopened after meeting set sanitation compliance conditions and called on all markets to prioritise cleanliness and adhere to environmental standards.
He also noted that the state would continue to clamp down on filthy markets.
He said, “The state government has opened Alaba Rago Market, Ojo, after it was sealed for gross environmental infractions and negligence. We want to appeal to other markets to take seriously the issue of cleanliness and make the state cleaner and livable for all”.
Wahab reaffirmed the government’s commitment to enforcing environmental standards across the state, emphasising that the reopening of Alaba Rago Market should serve as a clarion call to all market stakeholders to place premium value on cleanliness and sanitation.
The statement further read that the LAWMA Managing Director, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, highlighted the importance of collaborative efforts between market authorities, traders, and relevant government agencies in maintaining a clean and healthy market environment.
He noted that the reopening of the market should not be misconstrued as leniency towards environmental infractions, as the zero-tolerance policy of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration is still in effect, adding that markets play an important role in achieving environmental sustainability across the state.
Credit: Facebook| LAWMA
