By Yemi Olakitan
Following adherence to all required sanitary measures by the state, the Alayabiagba Market in Boundary, Ajegunle was reopened on Saturday by the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab.
Speaking in front of a sizable audience of market men and women in Ajegunle during its inspection, Wahab said that the government decided to reopen the market after it certified that every item on the checklist provided to the market’s officials had been addressed in full.
Wahab, who was with Special Adviser for the Environment Kunle Rotimi Akodu, Permanent Secretary for Drainage Services Engr. Lekan Shodeinde, Environmental Services Gaji Omobolaji, and MD of LAWMA Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, said the market’s entrance fence and the placement of a Double Dino Bin are on the checklist.
Wahab stated that the government would continue to maintain the viability of all sanitary regulations governing the construction of market spaces, encouraging market vendors to preserve the environment and always ensure correct waste disposal.
“We must stop strewing waste all over our market, segregate and bag our waste, and always support PSP operators. We must also stop illegal dumpsites on road medians, kerbs, open spaces, and road setbacks, and we must begin policing our environment,” he insisted.
In the meantime, earlier in the day, the Commissioner and his staff went through some of the drainage channels and dark spots for indiscriminately depositing garbage with the executive of Lekki Residents Association.
The crew found many violations in the way the property owners had sealed off setbacks for straining with concrete and built on drainage alignments.
The Commissioner stated that the primary objective of clearing and dredging all drainage channels and canals is to make it simple for rainwater to pass through, which explains why the government has prioritised continuous dredging of significant drainage channels and canals located throughout the state.
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He said that instructions had been granted to file violation notices on some Admiralty Way commercial property owners for breaking state environmental rules.
The Durosimi Etti channel, which is littered with trash and parked shuttle buses, was used as an example to emphasise that the State Government has zero tolerance for environmental abuse, particularly drainage blockage. He asked that the area be made more attractive.
Additionally, he removes an illegal mechanic shop off Admiralty Way, next to the Parktonian Hotels, warning that all of the vehicles will be hauled away if they tried to go back.
Mr. Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, Special Adviser on Environment, made a plea to the populace to stop dumping trash into the drains, pointing out that residents’ actions have made many primary drainage channels—including tertiary drains—into trash dumps, which has contributed to the clogging of the drains.
He also reaffirmed the advice given to all landowners who have constructed on drainage alignments or set backs to take down all such constructions since they pose serious obstacles to the free flow of water into the various drainage channels.
Dr. Muyiwa Gbedegesin, the managing director of LAWMA, stated that the agency is now better positioned to guarantee a cleaner Lagos at all times.
The places visited on Admiralty Road are Durosimi-Etti and Kayode Animashawun/Olubunmi Owa, among others.
In response, the leader of the Lekki Residents Association’s environment committee, Mrs. Tari Taylour, praised the government for its commitment to making Lagos a livable city for everybody.
She gave the residents of Lekki the advice to always dispose of their waste properly by using the PSP and to regularly clean their frontage drainages since long-term environmental sustainability would be advantageous to all residents.
