The Lagos State Government has backtracked on its decision to re-open the Ladipo market, saying that the market remains closed.
The Managing Director, Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, made the clarification on Monday in Lagos.
Gbadegesin said that the market would remain closed because it had been observed that its management had not fully met the stipulated mandatory safety and environmental measures earlier outlined by the authority.
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He said that those conditions were required before the market would recommence business activities.
“Our primary concern is the safety of the people and environmental well-being at marketplaces. Reopening is contingent upon strict adherence to the safety conditions set forth by LAWMA.
“It is imperative that all necessary precautions are taken to prevent any potential risks,” Gbadegesin said.
The LAWMA boss added that while several markets had successfully met the outlined safety requirements and had been permitted to resume businesses, Ladipo Market would also be reopened to business activities, once it passed the requisite safety audit.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the market was earlier announced reopened alongside Oyingbo, Ile Epo Oke-Odo and Alamutu markets.
When the officials of LAWMA arrived for the official re-opening of the market, they observed that an essential part of the conditions have not been met.
About LAWMA
Management of solid waste did not become a phenomenon in Nigeria until the early 1970’s, when due to the oil boom, which compounded the emerging industrialization and urbanization, the resultant high volume of waste was becoming increasingly difficult for the Local Government Councils in Lagos State to manage. Such that, by 1977, when Nigeria hosted FESTAC ’77, the world press classified Lagos as the “dirtiest” city capital Consequently, in April 1977, the first waste management outfit in West Africa was instituted, as Lagos State Refuse Disposal Board (LSRDB) in Nigeria, under Edict 9 of 1977, with Powell Duffen Pollution Control Consultants of Canada as managers.
In 1981, its name was changed to Lagos State Waste Disposal Board (LSWDB) because of the added responsibilities for industrial-commercial waste collection and disposal, drain clearing and disposal of derelict / scrapped vehicles. Finally, in December 1991, its current name, the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) was christened under Edict No. 55, which made the agency to be responsible for the collection and disposal of municipal and industrial waste, as well as for the provision of commercial waste services to the State and Local Governments.
