3rd February, 2012
The Lagos State Government has re-opened the popular Mile 12 Market shut Wednesday for violating the environmental laws of the state and causing traffic gridlock on the expressway.
Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello visited the market located in Ikosi-Isheri Local Council Development Area, LCDA of Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria this afternoon and re-opened it with a condition that the traders would abide by the environmental laws of the state.
Bello, who addressed the traders, expressed government’s concern over various environmental nuisance which could lead to outbreak of diseases, stressing the need for abatement immediately.
The commissioner gave six conditions to the traders which must be put in place if the market was to remain opened.
He said the condition included: that no trailer must park on the highway to offload food item; that nobody in the market, henceforth should sell in filthy mud but rather provide stall or shelf and maintain good sanitary environment and that nobody should sell on the road to allow free flow of traffic on the Ikorodu Road.
Others are: that the traders in the market should close by 6.00 pm daily; that no trader should sleep in the market; that no trader must patronise cart pushers, rather should patronise Lagos Waste Management Authority, LAWMA.
Bello said Governor Babatunde Fashola was ready to ensure that the standard of markets across the state was raised to meet the best practices and that government would not hesitate to punish offenders.
According to the commissioner, the leadership of the market must immediately set up an internal mechanism to serve as monitors in ensuring total compliance with all the conditions in their own interest and the general public.
—Kazeem Ugbodaga