Ola Akinwunmi
Lagos, Nigeria – The Lagos State Government has delivered a stern warning to traders at Alabarago Market, threatening imminent closure if they fail to rectify severe environmental violations within a tight 24-hour deadline. The ultimatum was issued on Sunday by the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, following a critical inspection of the market and surrounding areas.
Commissioner Wahab, who also visited Idi-Araba and Orile-Iganmu as part of the inspection tour, expressed deep concern over the deplorable environmental conditions at Alabarago Market. He highlighted that the market had been sealed last year due to similar environmental infractions, indicating a persistent failure to comply with the state’s environmental regulations.
“We have been to Alabarago before sometime last year, and we had to seal the market for them to do the right thing,” Wahab stated, speaking to journalists after the inspection. “Unfortunately, we may have to thread that path, but by tomorrow evening, we will determine if we should or we shouldn’t.”
The Commissioner detailed the extent of the environmental degradation, noting that traders have transformed the market into an illegal waste dumping ground. “They now turn the place into a waste system point to dump their waste. They turned the market, pushed it to the road, and blocked all the drainage systems and alignments,” he lamented.
According to Wahab, market representatives have verbally agreed to clear the accumulated waste and restore environmental order. However, he emphasized that definitive action, including potential sanctions and closure, would be taken if the agreement is not honored by Monday evening.
The move underscores the Lagos State Government’s renewed commitment to enforcing environmental laws and ensuring public hygiene, particularly as the Sallah celebrations approach. Commissioner Wahab took the opportunity to appeal to all Lagosians to take ownership of their environment, urging responsible waste management during and after the festive period.
“Keep your environment clean during and after Sallah. Contain your wastes within your system and let the PSP operators come and cart them away for you,” he advised. “Let us celebrate responsibly by taking ownership of our environment.”
The 24-hour ultimatum has put Alabarago Market traders on high alert, with the clock ticking for them to undertake a massive cleanup effort to avert the looming threat of closure. The state government’s decisive action signals a clear message: environmental compliance is non-negotiable.
