26th September, 2011
Following the notice to close down the popular Ladipo spare parts market in Mushin by the Lagos State government, over environmental degradation, the traders have themselves shut down the market and commenced an environmental sanitation exercise in the market, until it is clean.
The decision to shut the market was made by the leaders and stakeholders of the market to prevent closure by the government.
The Lagos State government had warned the traders it was going to shut down the market because the traders had turned the canal in their premises into dump sites, thereby blocking the canals and constituting an envcironmental nuisance.
Issuing the warning, the Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello, said the traders have blocked the canals in the area with refuse and vehicles scraps which have caused serious flooding in the area.
The traders were warned to change their attitude and clear the canal otherwise the government will close the market indefinitely.
The warning caused panic in the market and the traders were forced to come together to clean up the place.
P.M.NEWS gathered that the president of the umbrella body, Ladipo Auto Central Executive Committee, LACEC, Comrade Daniel Nwafor, summoned a meeting of the market’s stakeholders to determine the the next line of action.
It was at the meeting that the decision to close down the market and clean up the place as well as how to keep the market clean in future.
The exercise will commenced on Friday and will continue until the market is clean.
Some of the traders who spoke with P.M.NEWS thanked the government for warning them instead of closing the market immediately.
—Cyriacus Izuekwe