To prevent further escalating economic suffering, the Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights (CHSR) has urged Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to reopen the Owode Onirin and Mile 12 International markets.
The closing of the markets was deemed a misplaced priority by CHSR President Alex Omotehinse in a statement on Saturday.
According to Omotehinse, the reopening would prevent unforeseen implications on the financial commitments and way of life of the vast majority of people.
We deplore the recent closure of the Owode Onirin and Mile 12 International Markets by Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources.
“CHSR say that the closure is sad and a misguided priority because it follows recent actions that have adversely impacted the livelihoods of millions of Lagos people.
It should serve as a lesson that these two marketplaces are not only essential to the financial well-being of millions of traders nationwide, but also vital to the supply of perishable goods and automotive components in Sub-Saharan Africa.
READ ALSO: Lagos Government Closes Markets in Mile 12 and Owode Onirin Due to Environmental Violations
He claims that the group is aware that the two markets had previously been determined to be in compliance with maintaining a clean environment on numerous occasions.
He claimed that this was demonstrated by the introduction of innovations and the growth of the infrastructure, both of which had significantly raised market standards.
“We contend that the Lagos State Government should not arbitrarily use market closures as weapons in its effort to guarantee that all markets maintain a clean and hygienic environment.
“We must also take into account the fact that, while having met their obligations to the organisation in charge of trash disposal, the state environmental agencies have fallen short of the expectations of the business community.
“We are aware that the Mile 12 International Market has been acknowledged as Nigeria’s best-maintained market for perishable foods, setting a standard for other comparable marketplaces throughout the nation.
The activist continued, “We also wish to underline that arbitrary and frequent market shutdown at a time of economic depression when citizens are barely managing to survive is ill-conceived and unhelpful.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Lagos State Government on Friday declared that Mile 12 International and Owode Onirin markets would be shut down immediately due to a number of environmental violations. (
