The 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 violations, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to maintaining a cleaner and healthier environment.
The directive was issued during the monthly environmental sanitation exercise held on Saturday, as the chairman also warned that markets that fail to participate in the mandatory sanitation exercise risk closure.
Hon. Saliu instructed the council’s environmental health officers to seal the shopping complex after it was found littered with bags of refuse that had reportedly been left unattended for several days.
The decision followed a report by the Supervisory Councillor for Environment, Hon. Femi Otunla, who disclosed that the contractor handling the project had repeatedly ignored warnings to evacuate the waste.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the unhygienic condition of the site, the chairman vowed that the council would adopt stricter measures to enforce compliance with environmental sanitation laws.
The Chairman also visited the fruit market in the Adeleye area, where he revealed plans to establish a refuse transloading point to improve waste management within the community.
According to him, the proposed facility will serve as a central collection point where waste will be gathered before being evacuated by compactors to state-approved landfill sites.
He explained that the initiative would ensure a more coordinated and efficient waste evacuation process while helping to keep the community cleaner.
Hon. Saliu disclosed that discussions with the appropriate government agency are at an advanced stage to secure the necessary approval for the project.
He urged residents and traders to support the initiative by complying with environmental regulations and refraining from indiscriminate dumping of refuse.
During an unscheduled visit to the 7Up Market in Ijora, where gates were found under lock and traders transacting business, Hon. Saliu criticized the level of non-compliance among market operators, and threatened to seal the market henceforth.
Addressing the Baba Oja and market leaders, he stressed that traders have a responsibility to actively participate in the monthly environmental sanitation exercise.
“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.
Commenting on the directive to seal the shopping complex, Hon. Otunla said environmental health officers, the council’s Chief Security Officer and task force personnel would be mobilised to enforce the order if the premises were not immediately cleaned up.
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 tour covered several locations, including Adeleye Junction, Iganmu Road and Ijora 7Up, where the Chairman also addressed members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) on the importance of environmental cleanliness and strict compliance with sanitation regulations.
