The Lagos Waste Management Authority, LAWMA, has sealed the popular Oyingbo Market in the state over various environmental offences.
According to the Managing Director of LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, some of the offences included indiscriminate refuse dumping, refusal to patronise Private Sector Participation, PSP, operators, roadside trading and poor hygienic practices resulting in serious environmental problems in the area.
The LAWMA boss in a statement on Thursday said that an abatement notice and several warnings had been issued to the traders but yielded no result, hence the closure of the market.
He insisted that the market would only be reopened when traders show readiness to comply with government’s rules and regulations by shunning indiscriminate refuse disposal and patronising designated PSP operators.
Gbadegesin urged other markets in the state to cultivate the culture of effective waste disposal as any market whose activities were found detrimental to the health and environmental well being of the populace would be shut down until further notice.
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He lamented that efforts of the state government to enthrone sustainable environment were being undermined by some individuals who would rather dump refuse on unauthorised locations.
He warned defaulters that the grace period was over stressing that henceforth, there would be total enforcement against all forms of illegal and reckless waste disposal in the state.
He noted that “Section 115 (4) and 116 part IV, Environmental Sanitation Nuisances and Litters, as well as Section 81, Part III, Lagos Waste Management Authority, LAWMA, of Environmental Management and Protection Law 2017 prohibits dumping of waste at undesignated places, which attracts specified sanctions.”
Gbadegesin explained that the agency recently published a public notice in major national dailies, stating various environmental offences and appropriate sanctions to defaulters.
He called on residents to support efforts of the state government to establish a cleaner and healthier environment in the state by ensuring they bagged and containerised their wastes appropriately, as well as patronising assigned PSP operators.
The LAWMA boss said that residents should promptly contact the authority using the toll-free line 07080601020, for complaints and relevant information.
