By Solanke Ayomideji Taiwo
ABEOKUTA — The Ogun State Waste Management Authority (OGWAMA) has issued a stern warning to market leaders and traders across the state to desist from turning markets into illegal waste dumps, declaring that any market found violating environmental sanitation regulations risks immediate closure in the interest of public health.
The warning was delivered by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Environmental Protection and Managing Director of OGWAMA, Farouk Akintunde, following the evacuation of long-standing refuse heaps at the Farmers’ Market on Solu Road in Ifo and Mamu Market located within the Ifo and Ijebu North Local Government Areas.
In a statement made available on Sunday, the agency described the indiscriminate dumping of refuse within market premises as a dangerous practice that poses significant environmental and public health risks, stressing that such acts would no longer be tolerated by the state government.
Akintunde expressed concern over what he described as the negligence of some market leaders who permit traders to dispose of waste indiscriminately instead of ensuring that refuse is deposited at designated collection points for evacuation by government-approved waste management operators.
He noted that the unhealthy practice not only pollutes the environment but also threatens the safety of food items sold in the markets, exposing residents to food contamination, food poisoning and other preventable diseases.
“The practice whereby market leaders allow waste to be dumped indiscriminately within markets instead of ensuring that it is deposited at designated collection points for evacuation by government-licensed waste collectors is unacceptable. It constitutes environmental pollution and poses serious health hazards within the markets,” Akintunde said.
He added that markets should be maintained as clean and hygienic environments where residents can purchase food and other consumable goods without fear of contamination.
“Markets should operate in a clean environment with proper waste management and not serve as havens for illegal waste dumps. Markets are public places where people purchase food and other consumables. Exposing such items to waste is unacceptable and will not be tolerated under any circumstances,” he stated.
The OGWAMA boss further emphasized that the Ogun State Government would not allow the actions of a few traders and market leaders to undermine public health, particularly after sustained awareness campaigns and engagements conducted by the agency on proper waste management practices.
According to him, the government has consistently educated market associations on the need to adopt responsible waste disposal methods, making continued non-compliance unacceptable.
“The state government will not fold its arms and allow a few market leaders and traders to expose residents to avoidable health risks because of their careless attitude to waste disposal.
“This should not be happening, particularly after OGWAMA’s continuous engagement with market leaders across the state on the importance of proper waste management and evacuation,” he said.
Akintunde urged the leadership of all markets in the state to take responsibility for maintaining clean surroundings by ensuring that traders comply with sanitation regulations and patronise only government-licensed waste collectors.
He also warned that the recent evacuation of refuse at the affected markets should not be viewed as an opportunity to return to old habits, stressing that the government would closely monitor compliance going forward.
The managing director maintained that any market found reverting to indiscriminate waste dumping after the clean-up exercise would face strict enforcement measures, including closure, to safeguard public health and preserve environmental standards across Ogun State.
The latest warning underscores the Ogun State Government's renewed commitment to enforcing environmental sanitation laws, improving waste management practices and ensuring cleaner, healthier markets for residents and visitors alike.
