The Ogun State government has issued a stern warning to market officials and traders regarding improper waste disposal, declaring that any market caught dumping refuse on its premises will face immediate closure. This directive follows mounting concerns about trash accumulation and open defecation along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
Investigations in areas like Mowe, Ibafo, and Magboro revealed piles of waste and human excrement lining the expressway medians. Residents such as Kunle Olalekan and Ugo Chukwu criticized the state government, claiming that lax enforcement and a lack of oversight on traders are the primary drivers of these unsanitary conditions.
Farouk Akintunde, the Special Adviser to the Governor and Managing Director of the Ogun State Waste Management Authority (OGWAMA), confirmed that the state recently cleared major illegal dumpsites in Ifo and Ijebu North. He emphasized that refuse must only be disposed of through government-authorized channels. Akintunde stressed that poor hygiene in markets threatens public health by potentially contaminating food supplies. Consequently, he has instructed market leaders to enforce sanitation standards immediately, warning that any further instances of illegal dumping will result in the shutdown of the offending market locations.
