The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab on Saturday, September 30, 2023 reopened the Alayabiagba Market in Boundary Ajegunle after adherence to all prescribed sanitation measures by the state.
Speaking at Ajegunle before a mammoth crowd of market men and women during its inspection, Mr. Tokunbo said government decided to re-open the market after it certified that all checklist given to the officials of the Market have been fully addressed.
Wahab who was accompanied by Special Adviser, Environment, Kunle Rotimi Akodu, Permanent Secretary Drainage Services, Engr. Lekan Shodeinde, Environmental Services, Gaji Omobolaji and MD LAWMA, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, said the checklist includes placement of Double Dino Bin within the market as well as erection of a fence at the entrance of the market.
Wahab said Government will further ensure sustainability of all sanitation laws guiding the establishment of market spaces urging 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 patronise PSP operators, stopping illegal dumpsites on road medians, kerbs, open spaces, and road setbacks and start policing our environment,” he emphasised.
Meanwhile, earlier in the day, the Commissioner and his team alongside executives of Lekki Residents Association went round some of the drainage channels and black spots for indiscriminate refuse dumping.
The team discovered many contravention 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 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 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.
He 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 Special Adviser on Environment, Mr. Olakunle Rotimi – Akodu appealed to the people to desist from dumping refuse into the drains, adding that clogging of the drains had been compounded by the activities of residents who had turned many major drainage channels into refuse dumps including tertiary drains across the state.
He also reiterated the warning issued to all property owners who have built on setbacks of drainage channels or drainage alignments to remove all such structures as they constitute major impediments to free flow of water into the various drainage channels.
The Managing Director of LAWMA, Dr Muyiwa Gbedegesin said the organisation is now better positioned to ensure a cleaner Lagos at all times.
The locations visited include Durosimi-Etti, Kayode Animashawun/Olubunmi Owa amongst others all on Admiralty Road.
In response, the Chairman of Environment sector,Lekki Residents Association, Mrs. Tari Taylour commended government for the determination to continually make Lagos livable for all.
She advised all Lekki residents to always dispose of their waste properly by patronizing the PSP and always ensure they clean their frontage drainages as continuous environmental sustainability would be beneficial to all residents in the long run.
