Ogun govt warns markets against illegal waste dumping, threatens closure of defaulters

Ogun State Government has warned market leaders and traders to desist from indiscriminate waste disposal, saying any market found dumping refuse within its premises risks being shut down.

The warning comes amid growing concerns over the accumulation of refuse and evidence of open defecation along sections of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway within the state.

A visit by our correspondence to the Mowe, Ibafo and Magboro stretches of the expressway on Sunday revealed heaps of waste littering the road median and adjoining roadsides, which have been turned into illegal dumpsites.

At Mowe, decomposing refuse was seen at several points on the median, while traces of human faeces indicated the continued practice of open defecation in the area.

Similar conditions were observed in Ibafo and Magboro, with another illegal refuse dump sighted near Lotto Bus Stop.

Reacting to the situation, a resident, Kunle Olalekan, blamed the state government for what he described as inadequate enforcement of environmental regulations.

He argued that authorities had failed to effectively monitor traders operating along the expressway, allowing indiscriminate waste disposal to persist. 

“The Ogun State Government is to be blamed for this eyesore. When you drive through the Lagos section of the expressway, you hardly see this level of indiscriminate dumping, but here in Ogun, refuse is everywhere. The government has not done enough to enforce environmental sanitation laws,” he said.

Another resident, Ugo Chukwu, urged the government to intensify enforcement efforts in markets situated along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway corridor, alleging that traders were responsible for much of the waste.

According to him, heaps of corn husks and other refuse regularly found on the Mowe median are believed to originate from nearby markets.

“Most of the refuse appears to be coming from traders operating close to the expressway. The government needs to extend its enforcement to these markets because the waste does not end up there by accident,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Ogun State Government reiterated that any market found violating waste management regulations would face closure.

In a statement made available to journalists on Sunday, the Special Adviser to the Governor and Managing Director of the Ogun State Waste Management Authority, OGWAMA, Farouk Akintunde, issued the warning after officials evacuated long-standing refuse dumps at the Farmers’ Market, Solu Road, Ifo, and Mamu Market in Ifo and Ijebu North Local Government Areas.

Akintunde condemned the practice of dumping refuse within market premises instead of disposing of it through designated collection points serviced by government-approved waste operators.

He warned that poor waste management exposes food items to contamination, increasing the risk of food poisoning and the spread of preventable diseases. 

“Markets should be clean and hygienic environments, not centres for illegal waste disposal. These are places where people purchase food for consumption, and exposing such items to refuse is unacceptable. 

“The government will not tolerate actions by a few market leaders and traders that endanger public health through improper waste disposal,” he said.

Akintunde directed the leadership of the affected markets to ensure strict compliance with sanitation regulations and coordinate traders to maintain a clean environment.

He warned that any recurrence of indiscriminate waste dumping would attract the closure of the affected markets in the interest of public health and environmental safety.