The Lagos State Government has issued a 24-hour quit notice to illegal traders and occupants under the Idumota, Ebute Ero Police Police overhead, and environs in Lagos Island to vacate due to violations of environmental laws and degradation.
Meanwhile, the state government also ordered the immediate unsealing of the Oke Arin/Gorodom Market, following a mutual agreement reached.
The market was shut down over environmental degradation and encroachment on drainage alignments.
Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, gave the directives on Sunday during an on-the-spot assessment of the compliance level in the affected markets.
Wahab, therefore, warned that failure of the affected occupants to vacate the area within the stipulated period of grace would attract severe consequences.
The Special Adviser on Environment, Engr. Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services, Dr. Gaji Omobolaji; Permanent Secretary, Office Drainage Services, Engr. Mahamood Adegbite; Managing Director Lagos State Waste Management Authority, LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, as well as some ministry management staff, were also part of the inspection team.
According to Wahab, “We have come to inspect the level of compliance with respect to the directive given to keep off our drainage alignments and remove every impediment around the alignment.
“We came here about three weeks ago; we could see the high level of encroachment where people were selling on the drainage itself. It was a very unpalatable sight to behold.
“This led to serving the traders notices to vacate, and we had to re-establish that drainage and the right of way. All the connecting tertiary drainages were also opened up.
“We also engaged with the traders upon which they gave their written undertaking and agreed to maintain what we have opened up, which led to the immediate unsealing of the market.
“From there, we inspected the Idumota and environs.We could see the level of environmental degradation and it’s not something we want to keep unaddressed.
“We had to serve them quit notice to remove them and after then we shall do the needful.”
He stressed the need for residents, including traders at all markets, to prioritize environmental cleanliness to prevent the spread of diseases.
“It is necessary for everyone to take care of the environment; the traders caused the closure of the market; the government will not let down its guards. Going forward, we are determined to go around nooks and crannies of Lagos State to re-establish our drainage alignments in order to avoid flooding because whenever there is a flood in the state, you people will accuse the government of being irresponsible,” he said.
Wahab explained the illegal process in which shop owners/ traders had converted the setback of the drainage channels in the markets to stalls had impeded the free flow of stormwater and could lead to serious disease breakouts of Cholera, Diarrhea, typhoid fever, amongst others, saying if each and everyone make good sanitation practices a daily affair in their shops and environs, it would save the citizenry from continuous visit to the hospitals.
“With these illegal stalls and shops, if proper care is not taken, we can have a major disease outbreak, and these outbreaks can have negative impacts on our health care system, such that we would start undertaking various tests which we can avoid by doing the needful in every corner of our stalls” he said.
He recalled that the State Government had banned styrofoam over a year ago due to its adverse effects on human health and drainage channels. He observed that some traders are still using and littering the market environment with the banned item and urged them to stop.
“I would like to appeal to our traders who still engage in selling styrofoams packs that we don’t want to see styrofoams in our markets; it is obvious that some of you are still storing these styrofoams in your stores; It is high time you collaborate with the government as traders to help protect the environment and all the drainage alignments” he stressed.
Wahab emphasized that Global warming and climate change is real as such everyone must become responsible in order to push back the climate challenges and effects as much as possible.
“Let us make our choices now; markets are not meant to be sleeping places. If You people have been collecting money from those sleeping in the markets in the past, such people should stop giving you money. The government is not asking for your money; just fix the little necessary things in your corners; stop connecting your sewage system to the drainage alignment; stop discharging your waste into the drainage alignment. Stop building on the drainage alignment so that the drainages can remain clean always; the rains are coming, and we must be prepared,” he added.
During the tour, the Commissioner also ordered the immediate sealing of Kabaran Global Nigeria—Apogbon Truck Park on Adeniji Adele Road after the expiration of several abatement notices served, stressing that the contractor that would repair the major road is expected to move to the site and that the space had been allocated for the contractor’s use.
The Commissioner sounded a note of warning again to developers and residents who are fond of dumping building materials on the roads and drainage channels, thereby causing serious blockage to the natural flow of water, to desist from such acts while ordering the immediate sealing of a shopping complex under construction along Adeniji Adele Road.
In an appreciation response, Alhaja Basirat Owolewa, who spoke on behalf of the Iyaloja of Gorodom Market, expressed appreciation to the government for opening up all blocked drainage channels in the market.
She promised that traders in the market and around the re-established channel would be compelled to promote good sanitation practices and make it a priority from now on.
