The Lagos State Government on Wednesday, September 27, sealed up the Okeodo market at Ile-Epo near Abule Egba over non-compliance with the state’s Environmental laws. 

This is coming barely 2 days after the state government through the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), in a similar exercise, sealed the Oyingbo and Alayabiagba markets in Lagos Mainland due to environmental issues. 

This disclosure is contained in a post by the Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, on his official X (formerly Twitter) account. 

Wahab, who said he gave the order for the market to be shut, stated that the exercise was carried out by the officials of Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (KAI). 

Officials of KAI were earlier reported to have cleared the CMD/Magodo road of all illegal markets and shanties, as well as seized the items of the street traders and forced them to vacate the area. 

Wahab in his post said, ‘’On my order, Okeodo market at Ile-Epo near Abule Egba was earlier today (Wednesday, 27th of September, 2023) sealed up by the officials of Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (KAI) over noncompliance with the state’s Environmental Protection Laws.’’

Also speaking on the development, the Managing Director of Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, said the move became necessary to make them comply with environmental laws and regulations, and to warn defaulting markets around the state, to do the needful or risk a closure.

He said, “The closure of Oke-Odo Market underscores LAWMA’s commitment to ensuring that public spaces meet the required cleanliness standards. We will not compromise on the health and well-being of residents.”

Gbadegesin stressed that the decision was a significant stride in LAWMA’s efforts to sanitise the state, ensuring that public spaces are conducive for business activities and safe for all residents.

He added that the closure of the market served as a stark reminder that adherence to cleanliness standards was not negotiable.

He said, “This action is part of a broader initiative by LAWMA to create awareness and enforce sanitation regulations across various markets in the state.

“Markets that do not meet the prescribed cleanliness standards will face similar consequences as Oke-Odo Market.”

Gbadegesin, therefore, urged market operators and stakeholders to take the action as a wake-up call to institute robust cleanliness practices within their premises.

Ogun State government on Tuesday said that it has cancelled celebrating the 63rd Independence Day scheduled for Sunday, October 1st

This, according to a statement from the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Tokunbo Talabi, was in tune with the directive of the federal government to have a low-key celebration this year.

The decision by the Federal Government to have a low-key celebration according to the statement was to reflect the mood of the nation with the government urging citizens of the state to spend the time solemnly praying for the country.

The statement partly reads, “Following the directive of the Federal Government that this year’s Independence Day Celebration should be low-key, the Ogun State Government has cancelled all arrangements in respect of the anniversary on October 1st, 2023.

“The decision by the federal government is to reflect the mood of the nation. The state government enjoins citizens of the state to spend the time solemnly praying for the country.

“It is the strong belief of the government under the leadership of Governor Dapo Abiodun that the supplications of the people at this crucial time will be answered by God.

“We seek the understanding and cooperation of all and sundry as we observe a low-key independence anniversary this year, believing that better times lie ahead of us as a people”.

A fully loaded NNPC tanker got stuck and caused traffic gridlock for travellers coming from Oju Odo, Synagogue Church, inward Ikotun area of Lagos State on Tuesday morning.

This was contained in a statement made available to newsmen by the Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofeek, on Tuesday.

According to the statement, the LASTMA operatives averted a major fire disaster and ensured miscreants didn’t loot the tanker’s product.

He added that officials of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue team were present to trans-load the product of the stuck tanker to an empty one.

The statement partly reads, “Traffic officer Demola Muibi ‘Bravo’ (Zone 7) who led the LASTMA response team disclosed that an NNPC branded tanker fully loaded with petroleum product got hooked and blocked the entire Road inward Ikotun from the Synagogue Church.

“He disclosed further that to avert another major fire disaster around the entire Synagogue Church area, the LASTMA team after arriving at the scene around 6 a.m. called other major emergency responders including the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Services immediately.

“We managed the situation in such a way to avoid miscreants and hoodlums from tampering with the fuel before the arrival of Policemen from Ikotun Police Division.”