SANITATION: Apapa-Iganmu LCDA Seals Shopping Complex, Threatens Closure of Non-Compliant Markets
The Executive Chairman of Apapa-Iganmu Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Hon. Jimoh Olawale Saliu, has ordered the immediate sealing of an ongoing shopping complex over environmental sanitation violations, warning that markets that fail to comply with the monthly environmental sanitation exercise will also face closure.
The directive was issued during the council’s monthly environmental sanitation exercise on Saturday as the chairman reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to maintaining a clean and healthy environment across the LCDA.
Hon. Saliu ordered environmental health officers to seal the shopping complex after it was discovered that bags of refuse had been left unattended on the premises for several days.
The action followed a report by the Supervisory Councillor for Environment, Hon. Femi Otunla, who disclosed that the contractor handling the project had repeatedly ignored directives to evacuate the accumulated waste.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the unhygienic condition of the site, the chairman vowed that the council would intensify enforcement of environmental sanitation laws to ensure compliance.
As part of efforts to improve waste management, Hon. Saliu also visited the fruit market in the Adeleye area, where he announced plans to establish a refuse transloading point.
He explained that the proposed facility would serve as a central collection point where waste would be gathered before being evacuated by compactors to state-approved landfill sites.
According to him, discussions with the relevant government agency are at an advanced stage to secure approval for the project, which is expected to enhance waste evacuation and promote environmental cleanliness within the community.
The chairman urged residents and traders to support the initiative by complying with environmental regulations and avoiding indiscriminate dumping of refuse.
During an unscheduled inspection of the 7Up Market in Ijora, Hon. Saliu found the market gates locked while trading activities continued inside, a development he described as unacceptable.
Addressing the Baba Oja and market leaders, he warned that any market that fails to observe the monthly environmental sanitation exercise would be sealed.
“Since you have refused to participate in the clean-up exercise for just two hours, I will shut the market for three days and let you decide which you prefer. None of you came out for the exercise, yet you complain that Lagos is dirty.
Any market that fails to comply with the state government’s environmental sanitation directive will henceforth be closed,” he warned.
Speaking on the enforcement of the order to seal the shopping complex, Hon. Otunla disclosed that environmental health officers, the council’s Chief Security Officer and task force personnel would be mobilised to ensure compliance if the premises were not immediately cleaned.
The chairman was accompanied on the inspection by the Secretary to the Local Government, Hon. Ahmed Olanrewaju; Chief of Staff, Hon. Fatai Olanrewaju; the Council Manager, Mr. Lateef Omokayode Badmus; and other council officials.
The inspection covered Adeleye Junction, Iganmu Road and Ijora 7Up, where the chairman also sensitised members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) on the importance of environmental cleanliness and strict adherence to sanitation regulations.
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