By Cynthia Johnson
Lagos state government has reopened the Alayabiagba Market in Boundary Ajegunle after the market leaders adhered to all prescribed sanitation measures.
The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, who reopened the market on Saturday was accompanied by the Special Adviser, Environment, Kunle Rotimi Akodu, Permanent Secretary Drainage Services, Engr. Lekan Shodeinde, Environmental Services, Gaji Omobolaji and MD LAWMA, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin.
Wahab said the government decided to reopen it after it certified that all checklists given to the officials of the Market have been fully addressed, stating that the checklist includes the placement of a Double Dino Bin within the market as well as the erection of a fence at the entrance of the market.
He urged traders in the market to respect the environment and ensure proper waste disposal at all times.
“We must stop littering our market with wastes, segregate and bag our wastes and always patronize PSP operators, stopping illegal dumpsites on road medians, kerbs, open spaces, and road setbacks and start policing our environment.”
Also, the Commissioner and his team alongside executives of Lekki Residents Association earlier in the day, went around some of the drainage channels and black spots for indiscriminate refuse dumping.
The team discovered many contraventions in terms of construction on drainage alignments as well as sealing up of setbacks for drains with concrete by the property owners.
The Commissioner said the ultimate goal of clearing and dredging of all drainage channels and canals was to allow easy passage of rainstorm water which explained why the Government has made continuous dredging of major drainage channels and canals spread across the state a priority.
He stated that directives have been given for contravention notices to be served on some of the commercial property owners on Admiralty Way for contravening the state environmental laws.
He said the poor state of the drainage system management by these commercial buildings had seriously affected the road networks in the Lekki axis despite the continuous rehabilitation of the roads by the State Government.
He reiterated the state government has zero tolerance for environmental abuse especially drainage blockage, using a classic example of the Durosimi Etti channel which is littered with waste and parked shuttle buses, asking that the space should be beautified.
Wahab also dislodged an illegal mechanic workshop on a setback at Admiralty Way opposite Parktonian Hotels, saying if they attempted to return, all the vehicles would be towed away.
The Chairman of the Environment sector, Lekki Residents Association, Mrs. Tari Taylour, had in response, commended the government for the determination to continually make Lagos livable for all.
Tari enjoined all Lekki residents to ensure cleanliness, by patronizing the PSP for better waste disposal.
The Managing Director of LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbedegesin while lending his voice, said the organisation is now better positioned to ensure a cleaner Lagos at all times, disclosing that locations such as Durosimi-Etti, Kayode Animashawun/Olubunmi Owa amongst others all on Admiralty Road, were visited.