In its strides to keep a healthy and sustainable environment in the
state, the Lagos State government has shut down Mile 12 and Ketu fruit
markets for not keeping to the state sanitation law.
Commissioner for the Environment, Tunji Bello, noted that both markets were closed for their flagrant abuse of the state environmental sanitation law and indiscriminate loading and off-loading of goods on the main road, thereby creating traffic bottlenecks for other road users.
According to him, there were inadequate toilets in the markets, while traders in the markets pollute the surrounding environment with human wastes.
Commissioner for the Environment, Tunji Bello, noted that both markets were closed for their flagrant abuse of the state environmental sanitation law and indiscriminate loading and off-loading of goods on the main road, thereby creating traffic bottlenecks for other road users.
According to him, there were inadequate toilets in the markets, while traders in the markets pollute the surrounding environment with human wastes.
He pointed out that the closure of the markets became inevitable after several unheeded warnings to forestall epidemics and other health hazards in the state.
Tunji Bello reiterated the fact the Government’s policy of not allowing traders reside in the market was still in force, adding that markets were meant for business activities and not for residential purposes and that converting markets for residential purpose would evidently have untoward consequences on the environment.
As conditions for the reopening of the markets, Commissioner Bello hinted that all illegal structures within the market must give way; traders in the market must make further commitment for patronizing the PSP operators and not cart pushers.
He also said that the traders must be prepared to re-organize the loading and off loading of their goods in such a way that would ensure free flow of traffic on the road.
“The traders in these markets must ensure their environment is clean, clear the adjoining road of street traders and make adequate provision for toilets to eradicate open defecation and urination, as well as sign an undertaking to abide by our sanitation laws before their markets can be re-opened” he noted.
The Commissioner further sounded a note of warning to all markets in the state that after several warnings and stakeholders meeting with respective market executives across the state, the state Government will not hesitate to shut down more markets if they refuse to abide and religiously observe the state sanitation Laws.
He also reminded Lagosians that global climatic weather conditions has become so unpredictable, as such, Lagosians should properly dispose their waste through LAWMA and authorized PSP operators.
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