By Kazeem Ugbodaga
In a bold move to tackle environmental violations, the Lagos State Government has sealed off 13 markets in Ketu and Mile 12 for persistently flouting the state’s waste management laws.
Tokunbo Wahab, the state’s commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, announced the enforcement action in an X post.
He said the exercise took place last night, highlighting the markets’ illegal waste disposal practices that have been wreaking havoc on public spaces, roads, medians, and highways.
Wahab emphasised that these measures were crucial for safeguarding public health and restoring order to the city’s already congested public spaces.
“In line with our commitment to environmental sanity, Ketu and Mile 12 markets were successfully sealed last night for persistent violations, including illegal waste disposal on roads, medians, and highways – contrary to the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law of 2017,” he stated.
The list of sealed locations included high-profile markets and busy areas in both Ketu and Mile 12, as well as shops that had been contributing to the environmental degradation.
Among the affected locations were Erukan Market in Mile 12 and Oja Oba Market in Ketu, both of which had been notorious for improper waste management practices.
Additionally, Owoseni Tundas Market and Oba Ogunjobi Market in Mile 12 were also sealed. Other markets and shops affected by the clampdown include the Shops Owners at the BRT Terminal in Mile 12, the Mile 12 Bus Stop Shops, and Ketu Terminal Market, which has six plazas.
The move further extended to the Ifesowapo Shop Owners Market in Mile 12, Demurin St Plaza Shops in Ketu, and a range of other businesses, including The Occupant at 6 Demurin Road, Ketu. Ifelodun Market in Ketu, Ibadan Unit 1 Park located between Babajide Sanwo-Olu Market and Ikosi Fruit Market, and the Ketu Tipper Garage were also sealed as part of the operation.
“This action is not just about enforcement; it is about ensuring that market stakeholders take full responsibility for proper waste management going forward,” Wahab added, stressing the need for cooperation in creating a cleaner, safer, and more responsible Lagos.
The crackdown comes at a critical time as Lagos authorities are ramping up efforts to address the mounting waste crisis and to restore some semblance of order in heavily trafficked urban areas.
The sealed markets are expected to remain closed until waste disposal practices are aligned with the state’s regulations, in what is being described as a bold step towards enforcing environmental laws across the state.
“We cannot allow our markets to become breeding grounds for filth and health hazards,” Wahab concluded. “Let us all work together to build a cleaner, safer, and more responsible Lagos.”
