20th February, 2012
The Lagos State Ministry of the Environment has shut Oke-Odo and Alamutu markets in Agbado Oke Odo and Mushin local government areas respectively, a statement said on Sunday.
The statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the Ministry, Mr. Fola Adeyemi, said the government had no option after series of warning than to close the two markets in order to prevent epidemic outbreaks and flooding when it rained.
It quoted the Commissioner in-charge of the ministry, Mr. Tunde Bello, as saying that the government was determined to sanitise all markets as the rains had begun.
The statement said the ministry was ready to do all within its powers to ensure that flooding reduced in the state.
Bello expressed regret that most of markets had yet to buy into the vision of the state government, particularly in the areas of environmental sanitation and proper disposal of refuse.
“It is sad that most of our market men and women are still guided with the old traditional belief that rain is a blessing that must cart away refuse anytime it rains.
“One of the most topical issues of discussion all over the world today is climate change.
“The developed nations witness unprecedented flooding and Lagos being a coastal state, is susceptible to flooding, which is the more reason why the time to act is now before the rainy season.
“We have embarked on massive pre rainy season cleaning, clearing and dredging and we shall not relent until we get there,” he said.
The commissioner, however, appealed to all market leaders to advise their members to buy into the ministry’s zero flood free Lagos “otherwise they risk a closure of three months.”