The Lagos Waste Management Authority has shut down several plazas around Tejuosho Market, Yaba, for environmental offences that include improper waste disposal and trading activities obstructing the free flow of traffic, among others.
The affected plazas are situated around the Mobil Filling Station, down to the left and right sections of the popular Okrika market.
This was made known by the Managing Director of LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, on Thursday.
He said the affected plazas were found to be in violation of several critical environmental regulations like indiscriminate dumping of waste on road medians, use of road setbacks for trading activities, impeding the free flow of traffic, and operation of illegal motor parks in the area.
“Under our policy of zero tolerance for environmental infractions, LAWMA is totally committed to maintaining high environmental standards across the state. The ongoing enforcement actions are part of our broader efforts to sanitise markets, highways and public spaces, to acceptable standards,” he added.
The LAWMA MD called on all stakeholders, including market associations, traders, and residents, to cooperate with it by ensuring that markets adhere to established environmental guidelines.
According to him, collaborative effort was crucial in creating an alluring cityscape that adequately supports commerce and the well-being of the people.
“As LAWMA continues to monitor and enforce compliance with environmental regulations, it is required that the affected plazas will quickly effect necessary improvements to meet required standards before they can be reopened for business activities.
“The ongoing enforcement action is part of a larger campaign by LAWMA to improve sanitation conditions in markets across the state. Markets already sealed under the current campaign of zero-tolerance for environmental infractions include Oyingbo, Alayabiagba, and Oke-Odo Markets,” he stated.
SOURCE: PUNCH