Abigail Erhiagboje
Lagos State Government has closed down the Ajah Market and Ogba City Mall for failing to meet up with the newly set sanitation standards in Markets across the state and for committing what they described as a “waste disposal offence.”
The Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) confirmed this in a Press Statement signed by its Director of Public Affairs, Folashade Kadiri, on Monday.
Join our WhatsApp Channel“The Lagos State Government has shut Ogba City Mall, Ikeja, and Ajah Market, Etti-Osa, for sundry waste disposal offences. The action was carried out by the combined enforcement teams of the Lagos Waste Management Authority, LAWMA; State Task Force on Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences, LASTMA and LAGSEC (KAI).”
She added that the enforcement team also cleared shanties and traders’ illegal structures around the Ajah BRT corridor, and Ajah Jubilee Bridge on Sunday.
Commenting on the latest development, the Lagos State Environment and Water Resources (LASEWRC) Commissioner, Tokunbo Wahab said the move was in respect to the government’s resolve to continue its fierce fight against filth and indiscriminate waste disposal in markets and business centres.
“We are stepping up action on this administration’s zero tolerance for filth and reckless waste disposal by traders and business facilities.
“We have continuously warned business owners to expect action if they refuse to do the needful to sustain the environment. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration will not relent in its pursuit of this lofty objective for overriding public good.”
The Managing Director/CEO of LAWMA, Muyiwa Gbadegesin, emphasized the zero-tolerance campaign which he said would continue.
“For the umpteenth time, we are encouraging all business owners and the markets, to shun filth and put measures in place, to guarantee responsible waste disposal in their places of operation.”
The Ogba City Mall and the Ajah Market are the latest in the clampdown on filth in Lagos. Other markets that have also recently been shut down as a result of violating environmental sanitation are the Ladipo Market, Mile 12, and Owode Onirin markets among a few others.
