The Lagos State Ministry of Environment has reopened the Ebute-Ero Gorodom market after a three-week closure due to environmental infractions.
The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, said this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos.
The decision followed an inspection by Mr. Wahab, who emphasized the importance of environmental responsibility for the market’s continued operation.
“The government will never want to inflict pain on its citizens. But we must be responsible as citizens to play our own roles,” Wahab stated, addressing traders during the inspection.
He highlighted that the closure was a tough but necessary measure, stressing, “If you are making money from a place, it behoves you to even take care of that neighbourhood.”
Wahab warned the market vendors to comply with strict environmental regulations to prevent future closures, saying, “Stop pumping your sewage into the drainage alignments. Stop throwing your dirt into the drainage alignments. Stop building on the alignment paths.”
The commissioner further urged the traders to take proactive steps in maintaining cleanliness, including cleaning the market’s drainage system and ensuring waste bins are available at each store.
In response, the Iyaoloja, Fausat Ojikutu, represented by Alhaja Basirat Owolewa, assured full cooperation with the ministry: “We are going to cooperate with all your officers that you send here for one assignment or the other.”
The traders, who depend on the market for their livelihood, expressed their commitment to adhere to all environmental guidelines moving forward, as Owolewa promised: “All the marketers have learnt their lessons… we will adhere to all the things that you want us to do.”