Tag: Market

The Lagos State Government (LASG), on Sunday, warned Alabarago Market traders of possible closure if they fail to comply with environmental rules of the state within 24 hours.

The Commissioner For Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, said this while speaking with journalists after an inspection of the Alabarago Market and some other areas in the state.

Among the places visited by the commissioner were Idi-Araba and environs as well as  Orile-Iganmu.

He said the market was sealed up sometime last year for environmental infractions, adding that there would be a decision taken if they failed to clean up the environment within 24 hours.

“We have been to Alabarago before sometime last year, and we had to seal the market for them to do the right thing.

“Unfortunately, we may have to thread that part, but by tomorrow evening, we will determine if we should or we shouldn’t.

“They now turn the place into a waste system point to dump their waste. They turned the markets, pushed it to the road, and blocked all the drainage system and the alignments.

“They have agreed that they are going to clear everything, and if they don’t by tomorrow evening, we can now take steps to sanction them,” he said.

Earlier, the commissioner, who also took an inspection tour to Idi Araba, witnessed the cart pusher syndicate going on around the environs.

“For Idi-Araba, you know there is a law on environmental management and protection in the state that prohibits cart-pushing.

“For the past few weeks or months, there has been a major enforcement against cart-pushing statewide to enforce the law.

“So, we now had intelligence that this whole cart-pushing thing, there is a syndicate kind of behind it around Idi-Araba, and you saw it yourself.

“We are going to take steps to report to the law enforcement agencies this week about what we found out, and we also believe strongly that we must be very proactive about it.

Wahab also took an inspection tour to Orile-Iganmu to appraise the situation around the place.

“We came to Orile because the other side of this place, there is a system there that gets to flood, and it has been  awarded.

“However, that will not be holistically done without looking at this side of the road, which is the side of system five.

“So, we just came to see and appraise it, so the Lagos Waste Management Authority can come in this week and start moving those dirts so that the water can move on fine,” he said.

Speaking on Sallah celebrations, Wahab appealed to Lagosians to take ownership of their environment by being responsible.

“Keep your environment clean during and after Sallah. Contain your waste within your system and let the PSP operators come and cart them away for you.

“Let us celebrate responsibly by taking ownership of our environment,”he said.

The Lagos State Government has announced the successful relocation of the Okobaba Plank Market at Ebute Meta to a newly-developed site at Timberville at Agbowa.

It also announced the provision of 260 units of two-bedroom flats for the traders at Agbowa.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on e-GIS and Urban Development, Dr Olajide Babatunde, said this at the ongoing Lagos State 2025 Ministerial Press Briefing at Alausa, Ikeja.

The briefing is to commemorate  Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second year of second term in office.

“We have not only relocated the traders from Okobaba to Timberville in Agbowa, but we have also ensured their comfort by providing 260 units of two-bedroom flats.

“We are using this briefing to highlight key achievements in urban development as part of the governor’s commitment to inclusive growth,” he said.

Babatunde said that 21 markets, including Computer Village, Abule Egba, Alabama Transnational Market, Pelewura, Katangowa and Jankara Gorodome, were undergoing various stages of relocation, revitalisation and redevelopment under the supervision of the Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency (LASURA).

“We are repositioning these markets to be safer, more accessible, and better organised through LASURA’s comprehensive market redevelopment plan,” he said.

According to him, LASURA aims to achieve a 50 per cent annual reduction in slums and squatter settlements across the state.

“Our target is to reduce slum areas by half every year through infrastructure renewal and proper urban planning,” Babatunde said.

Also, he said that  140 consultants were certified as Lagos State Accreditors in the past one year under the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA).

He said that the professionals were responsible for screening construction drawings, conducting stage inspections, and monitoring non-compliant structures to curb building collapses.

“We now have 140 certified accreditors on ground to ensure only safe and compliant structures are approved in Lagos,” he said.

He also disclosed that LASBCA detected 8,663 building infractions in the past one year.

“Additionally, 1,136 construction commencement authorisations were issued to building owners and developers.

“Through our enforcement efforts, we discovered over 8,000 infractions, while ensuring that new developments meet required standards,” he added.

Babatunde said that LASURA was planning regeneration of the Ipodo slum settlement using inclusive renewal methods.

He added that the agency was working to establish a standard and enduring process for regeneration efforts.

“We are engaging with communities such as Ipodo to design human-centred regeneration plans that respect the people and the environment,” he said.

He announced a 30 per cent rebate for individuals intending to construct Green Eco-houses in the state as part of efforts to promote sustainable building practices.